The Idea of Communism 2

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H A OF COMMUNSM

VOLUM



H A OF COMMUNSM

VOLUM

EDITED

BY SLAVOJ

EK

Yk



First published by Verso 2013

©the collection Verso 203

individual contributions the contributors 2013

All rights reserved

T he mora rights of the author have been asseted

1 3 5 7 9 0 8 6 4 2

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ntroducton

Sfa1ojZzek

ontents

Th Com mun ist I d a and th Qu st on of T rror

A Lan Badiu

2

Com mu nism as Comm m n , Imagnaton and Pol cs

E inne Bafbar

3

O n th Chris an Q u ston

Buno Bo ee

4 A Com monst Ethcs

Suan B ck -Mo

5 Com munis D s ir

Jod Dean

6 From Sci nti c Socal ism to Socia st Sci nc

Na urdik k T h n a n d N o w

Adran Jol. on

7 R m m b ring th Imp ossb l : For a M a-Crt ca

Anamn s i s of Comm unsm

Fnk Rda

8 Com mu nism Tod ay

Emm anueL Terray

9 Answ rs W thou Q u stons

S oj

Z

k

Not s on Contrbutors

Ind x

l

1

3

3

5

103

137

69

77

2 0 7

209



Introduction

n 20 1 1 w wtn ss d (and partpat d n a s r s of manpato v nts

whh srps d v on nldng th r ators from th Ara Spng to

th

Opy Wa l Str t mov m nt from th G r volt to th UK rots

Now a y ar at r v day rngs n w vd n of how frag and non

sst nt

ths awa nng was ts many fa ts dsplayng th sam sgns of

xhaston th nthsasm of th Aa Spng s m d n omproms s

and r gos fndam ntasm; OWS has ost mom ntm to sh an xt nt

that n a n as of th nnng of r ason' th pol anp of ot

Par and oth r st s of th Opy prot sts annot t app ar as a l ssng

n dsgs ov rng p th mman nt oss of mom ntm And th sam

sto ontn s arond th world th Maosts n N pal s m to otma

no v d y th atona for s V n z as Bolvaran xp rm nt

app ars to r gr ssng nto a adllorn popsm and so on

What ar w to do n sh tm s? h st thng to d monstrat s

that th st rran an wor of dssatsfaton s ont nng rag s a

mlatng and a n w wav of r vots w fol ow. So t s mpotant to s t

th r ord straght to loat th s v nts n th tota of gloal apta

sm whh m ans showng how th y r lat to ts ntral antagonsm

h pr s nt oo nd avors to ontrt to sh a ogntv mappng'

(Fr dr Jam son) of o onst laton t rngs tog th r th nt rv n

tons of Commnsm A N w B gnnng' a onf r n - thrd n th

s r s aft r ondon n 2009 and B rln n 20 1 0 d dat d to th d a

of ommnsm and h ld at th Coop r Unon n N w Yor on 1 6

Oto r 201 1 .

SLv

k





The Communist Idea and the Question ofTeror

Alain Badiou

n h nn t nth c ntry h commnst d a was ln d to vol nc n

for dff r nt ways

Frst of al w nt hand n hand wth th fndam nal ss of r vol

on. R volton was conc v d of - snc th Fr nch R volton at

l ast as th vol nt act wh r by on socal grop on cass ov r

hrows h domnaon of anoth r grop or class All r votonary

mag ry was and to a gr at xt nt stll s focs d on th l gtmat

vol nc by m ans of whch th p opl n arms s z th s ats of pow r

Th word commnsm ths mpl d h word r voton n th s ns

of an d ologcal and poltca l gtmaton of nsrr cton or p opl s

war and th r for of col l ctv vo nc dr ct d a th xplo rs and

h r poc and m ary apparas s

S cond th commnst d a aso w nt hand n hand wth th r pr s

son d ploy d by th n w poplar pow r agans th att mpts at

con rr voton l d by h form r rlng cass s Th s att mpts w r

bas d on what r man d of th old stat apparats. Marx hms f ths

consd r d that a transtona p rod was n c ssary drng whch th n w

popar worngclass pow r wod r a d stroy v rythng tha

r man d of th apparats s that consttt d th stat of th oppr ssors.

call d hs p rod th dctatorshp of h pro tarat conc v d of

as a shor p rod of cors bt an ndbtably vo nt on as ndcat d

by th word dctatorshp Ths th word commnsm also mpl d th

gtmaon of d strctv vo nc p rp trat d by th n w pow r

Thrd h commnst d a w nt hand n hand n ths cas ov r a long

p rod of t wth dff r nt p s of vol nc ln d to th radcal trans

formaton not of th stat now b of soc as a who Th col ctvzaon

of land n th doman of agrclr c ntralz d ndstral d v lopm nt h

formaton of a n w mltary apparats th strggl aganst r lgos obsc

ransm and h cr aton of n w ctral and artsc forms - n short th

who transton to a col ctv n w word cr at d pow rfl concts a



2

LI BDI U

v l v l A gr at d al of vol n n th for of onstrants x rt d on

a ass sal o n r s mblng r al vl wars partlarly n th ont

sd had to b a pt d nsm' was o n th na of som thng

for th onstrton of whh ths vol n was navodabl

Forth and last of all all th onts and n rtant s abot th brth

of an ntr ly n w so wthot pr d nt n h story w r foralz d as

th strggl b tw n two ways of lf th way of lf of th prol tarat

and th way of lf of th borg os or th onst way of l f and

th aptalst way of lf . hs strggl dobtl ss t aross v s tor

of so bt t also rag d wthn th ommnst part s th s lv s

h r was ths h s ttlng of sor s wthn th n w forms of pow r

h word ommnsm th r for pl d vol n ln d to a stabl

nt d grops hold on pow r and ths th hron lqdaton nown as

prg s of r al or magn d adv rsar s

t an th r for b sad that th word ons' has for dff r nt

m anngs r lat d to vol n r voltona vol n ln d to th tang

of pow r dtatoral vol n ln d to th d strton of th r mnants of

th old r g transforatv vol n ln d to th mor or l ss for d

brth of n w soal r latonshps; and poltal vol n ln d to onts

wthn th par apparats and th stat

In th r al h sto of r voltons n th nn t nth and tw nt th nt

r s th s for gr s of vol n ar of ors ompl t ly nt rwov n

ov rlappng and almost ndstngshabl fro on anoth r - som thng

that has b n th as from th Fr nh R volton on. Consd r for

xapl th grsly psod nown as th S pt b r Massar s A ob

l d by radals slaght r d half of th Pars prson poplaton In a s ns

ths t rrng psod was l an psod n a bloody vl war. ow v r

sn th p opl who w r massar d w r prson rs th r voltona

r g th r voltona stat was to blam Frth ror n ord r to

pr v nt th s spontan os trag nd nts from happ nng agan th

r g ts lf wold assm r sponsb l for an npr d nt d nt ns

aton of r pr ssv pol and jd al m asr s And that nt nsaton

wold brng abot pal g n n ly poltal vol n sh as th x

ton of b rt and Danton and th r r sp tv part s. hs th

S pt mb r Massar s w r no dobt a vol nt r ton donat d by th

f ar of tr ason bt th stat was nvolv d n both th r as s and ons

q n s. It an th r for b sad that n ths as dtatoral vol n and

bloody ob vol n w r nt rwov n bt that th r voltonary r g

r voltona polt s att mpt d to hav th last word



E MMUNS IDE ND E QUESI N ERR R

On th oth r hand th r voltona stat s vo nc may at rst b

s l ctv domnat d by nt rna concts wthn th r gnng part s and

factons and th n at r trn nto ncontroll d mass vo nc hs s th

mpr sson w g t from th hsto of th gr at Stalnst rror that took

plac b tw n 1 96 and 1 99 n th form of pblc show trals ths

T rror stag d th s ttlng of scor s b tw n Stalns grop and w l

known Bosh vk l ad rs sch as nov v Kam n v Bkharn and

many oth rs Bt t v ntally b cam on ggantc prg throghot th

contr

y nvovng hndr ds of thosands of p opl who w r x ct d

or who d d n th camps hs npr c d nt d prg wold ltmat y

car off most of thos who w r r sponsbl for t n partclar Y zhov

th

h ad of th r pr ssv apparats In ths cas th c ntra stat wod

app ar to hav lanch d a r pr ssv proc ss of th forth p (poltca

vol nc lnk d to concts wthn th c ntral apparats) whch d v l

op d nto a who sal g n ra prg that nd d p r s mbng savag cvl

warp xt rmnaton

h dstncton mst n v rth l ss b mantan d b t n on th on

hand spontan os mob vol nc whch was akn to acts of class v ng

anc to brtal symbols of th n w baanc of pow r n cvl soc and

on th oth r hand stat vol nc dscss d and d lb rat ly organz d by

th l ad rs of th n w r gm whch aff ct d both th body potc and

soc as a who t shold b not d mor ov r that how v r barbarc

th form r may hav b n t has always b n th latt r whch from

Rob sp rr to Stan has s rv d as a v ry ff ctv argm nt to dscr dt

r voltons

So l t s call rror that mom nt n r voltona proc ss s wh n th

n w

r gm tak s poc and jdcal m asr s that ar xc ptona n

t rms of both th r vol nc and th r scop And l t s fac p to th

folowng prob m s th r a n c ssa r latonshp n r al hsto

b tw n th commnst Id a and rror?

As w w ll know ths s an mportant ss on whch antcommnst

propaganda d p nds almost ntr ly In ts sal connotaton th cat

go of totaltaransm' d sgnat s rror pr cs y as th n vtab

otcom of r voltons whos manf st prncpl s commnsm h

nd rlyng argm nt s that th constrcton of an galtaran soc s so

nnatra an nt rprs so contra to all th hman anmal s nstncts

that advancng n that dr cton s mpossbl wthot appallng vol nc

Ultmat ly th phosophy nd rpnnng ths propaganda go s back to

Arstot Arstotl mad a dstncton b tw n vo nt and natral



4 D U

mov m nts ntur Lb rl propgn xt ns ts stnton to

onoms, pots, n story Wt r gr to umn so , t m s

stnton b tw n nturl n vol nt mov m nts prvt ppro

prton of r sour s n w lt, omp tton n utmt y ptsm

r ons r n tur p nom n t ptbl , r s nt prouts of

nvul ntur Coll tv ton, t bolton of prvt prop r, n

t onstruton of ntrlz onom r v w s pur ly olog

l pro ss s, bstrtons tt n only b mpos on p opl by t

most xtr m vol n An tt vol n ts f n on ly xst b us

stt s b n stbls tt s ts lf som ow stnt from t r

ntur of so n bsout y s prt stt , w n only b mn

tn by rror, n ft

W must gv r r spons to t s rgum nt. W now tt t r

r four m ns of r futng t wt r f r n to t ommunst I n t

mportn of t poltl pro ss s tt subsrb to t Et r t sop

n vol n of r pr sson, t v ry xst n of rror n b n or

ts xst n n b pt n prnpl , n bot ts sop n n ss

n b nowl g Or rror n b r gr s vng xst ony

owng to rumstn s tt v now spp r , n s no ong r

vng n orgn onn ton wt t ommunst I Or, ny, w

n r gr t xst n of rror s sgn of vton, prtl

rror, of ommunst polts, n ons r tt t oul v b n, or

mor to t pont,

hu

b , vo In sort, t r rror s n nv n

ton of ptlst propgn or t s t pr tt must b p for t

trump of t ; or t ws ust by sort of r voluton pr m

tur, but s no long r r l vnt; or t s no n ss onn ton wt t

poltl pro ss of t ommunst I , t r n prnpl or owng to

rumstn s

s ff r nt r futtons of lb r propgn r l support by

omp lng rgum nts

Durng t ntr p ro w n t Solst stt s, n t S SR n

prtulr, w r n xst n , t rst to of t s t or s onfront

ot r In t ountr s of t Atnt Aln , ntommunst

propgn m gr t us of wt ws nown bout r pr ssv Stlnst

m tos s propgn qut Sov t pow r n t 1 90s wt t

Mosow rls, w s rv to lqut t Bols v ol gur. In t

1 90s, t fous t nton on t xst n of on ntrton mps n

Sb r ommunst pr s, for t r prt, ompl t ly n v

tng. An w n t t s nt n s b m ony too obvous s ws t



E MMNIS DE ND E QESI N F ERR R 5

s wi Mosow rils y no siion n insising i

ws only m r of nfu of riors n sp s n py of for gn

gov rnm ns.

A

v ry ff r n pro ss gn n of 190s w Krus vs

r por o w ni Congr ss of Communs r of SSR

For on ing, o mr gnnng of r w Sns p rio,

Sovi l rs m rror xs in 1 90s oug

wou

now gng s mss s For no r mor prop

gn n W s grully m fous on rror s n mmn n

n ssi of Communis worv w n xorin pri o py for

uop wi no sis in r l.

R mrly W s rn in rpr ion promo y liqu of

n w p osop rs n Frn uly m ons nsus n rpr

ion sp illy urng ls w n y rs of w n nu

r ws issoluion of uly xsng solsm, umning s

w now, in Russ mring upon v rson of s pilsm, n

rpily v loping Cn un r proxi l rsp of pr

s sll ll ommuns' ru ss pism v ry simlr o

of nn n nur n Engn. s wo ounri s w r

priipng n sor of gol onv rg n roun mos ru p

sm v no mm r son o suss niommunis propgn

s on v n of rror As r su sol nolr

in o wi r grs rror s in vl ouom of

omuns I s omng o pow r, s no oppon ns nymor in ny

ounri s, non of wi f n I ny long r s s if ommu

ns I , niv ly sso wi rror s v rpy om no

mor n pn in sorl univ rs .

ru n my opinon, is no r v lion of rror

Soz nsyns oos n priulr roug ou of

ommunis I .

n 1 n ry w h n nu wknng f h mmu

h z pbl h n L rn

un h n n 1

h nry Lnk b wn h n Trr0

y mom n in is

mporry o of ommuns I ws flur of Cn s

Culurl R vouon wi mp o r vv ommuns I

ous onn s of pr n s roug g n rl molz

on of su ns n woringlss you r sorion of s

or r un r D ng Xopng soun n ll of wol s qu n

of xis n of - w n ll prs s qu n

mn s oy s no so mu o nowl g vi n of



6 LI I

rror nd its xtrordiny viol n r s b n mu outstnding

inontrov rtib wor produ d bout it in t rst rn of wi

would put G ts gr t boo

Th R Trr S Ln n h S

D rc n f h Bhk 2-

Rt r t ts is o xmin nd

possibly to int rrogt or d stoy t ons nsus t oy tt p s ful l

r sponsibi li for rror on t ommunist d

As mtt of ft propos t folowing m tod of tougt r p

ing t d bt b tw n t o 1 nd t o 2 wit d bt b w n

t ori s nd

n ot r words ft r rst istoril s qu n in wi

t ommunist d on t sid of bourg ois r tion ws sid to b

riminl on nd t xist n of ny rror wtso v r ws on t

ommunist sid d ni d r s ond istoril s qu n in wi nti

totlitinism ss rt d tt t r ws n orgni lin b tw n t

ommunist d utopi nd l tl nd stt t ror tird s qu n

sould now b gin in wi four tings will b ss rt d simultn ousl: 1 .

bsout n ssi for t ommunist d in opposition to t

unbound d brbrism of pitlism 2 und niby t rroristi n tu

of t rst ffort to mbody tis d in stt irumstntil

origins of tis rror nd

possibili of politi d ploym nt of

t ommunist d g r d pr is y towrds dil limittion of

t rrorist ntgonism

rt of t wol mtt r in my opinion is tt ltoug t r vo

lut ion v nt do s in ft li in wid vri of forms t

h rn

of

ny pol itil inrntion of t ommunist d it is n v t l ss n its

rul or its mod l

I gr rr n fc h cn nu n furc n r wr

b n

But v n if it s d to go troug t ir viissitud s t

politis of t ommunist d is not nd must n v r b r duibl to insur

r tion or wr For its tru ss n t root of t n w politil tim it

onstruts s s its guiding prinipl not t d strution of n n my

but t positiv r solution of ontditions mong t p opl t polit i

l onstrution of n w ol l tiv ongution

o stblis tis point mor rmly w must nturly strt ov r gin

from t lst two ypot s s on rning ror Ev n if t gu s it d

by t now ons nsul ntiommunist propgnd r o n bsurd w

must fully r ogniz t vol n nd sop of Stlinist rror. W must

r gd it s in d to t iumstn s und wi t istoilly

unpr d nt d impl m nttion of gim inspir d by t ommunist

d t r gim of t soiist stt s ws und rt n s irum

stn s w r t wordwid slugt r of t int rimp rilisti ws



MMUNIS IDE ND E QUESI N F ERR R 7

f roious vil wrs, n t i giv n by for gn pow rs to t ount r

r volution ftions. T y w r t rumstn s of n ongong

sortg of xp ri n , stol poitil r s, t b st of wom w r

rri off rly on in t wirlwin. All of ts r t poitl sub

tivi ompos of sup r go imp rtiv n ron nxi . n rtin,

ignorn , n f r of tr son w r isiv ftors in wt w now now

bout t limt in wi t l rs m t r sons Tis sub

tivi

in turn l to t mn prinipl of tion b ing to tr t ny

ontrition

s if t w r ntgonisti, s if t r pr s nt mortl ng r.

T

bit tt v lop in t vi wr of illing nyon wo ws not

wit you b m ntr n in soilist stt tt ws onstnty

mz t ving su ssfuly pr vi

All of tis on rns not t ommunist I n its lf, but rt r t

prtulr pro ss of t rst xp rim nt wit it in istory W must now

strt gn from srt, rm s w r wit t nowl g of t

pot ntil outom of tt xp rim nt. W must mntin tt t r s no

r tonsip

in prinip b t n t ommunist I n stt t rror. I

woul v n v ntur to m n nlo bout tis for wi I wi ll b

ritiiz Ws t Crstin I lin in prinpl to t Inquiston?

Or ws it inst lin in prinipl to Sint Frnis of Assisis vision?

Tis issu n only b i from wtin r l sub tivztion of t

I v rt l ss, t only wy w n br fr from t irumstn

ti stiny of t ommunist I in its guis s t t rrorism of t

prstt , n orgniztion wos vision ws sp by t m tpor of

wr, is by ploying ts I gin in toys irumstn s.

T r is non t ss stori support for tis un rting tt I

woul li to m ntion - tt of t striing iff r n s b tw n t Sovi t

n Cin s xp rim nts witn t sm mo : t prstt

T ommon f tur s of t s two xp rim nts r obvious. In bot

s s, t vitory of t r voution too pl in n normous ount

tt ws sti l rg y rur, n wi nustrlzion ws only ust b gn

ning.

It ourr un r t onitions of wor wr tt gr tly

w n t r tion stt . In bot s s, t r sponsbli for l

ing t pro ss ws ssum by isiplin ommunist pr tt ws

n to lrg militry for s . In bot s s t rsip of t pr,

n t r for of t ntr pro ss, ws ompos of int ll tuls trin

in il til mt rilism n t Mrxist trition.

T iff r n s b tw n t m, ow v r, r gr t Firstly, t

Bols vis populr bs onsist of fto wor rs n soli rs wo



8 LDI

ad brok n away from t ofial miita apparatus T Cin s

ars popuar bas rtainly inlud d work rs, but it was dominat d

arg ly by p asants, sp ially in t mil itay t R d Army of wi

Mao strikingly mark d it was r sponsibl fo aing out t poitial

tasks of t volution . S ondly, t vito of t r volution in Russia

ook t form of a sort insur tion fous d on t apital and t iti s,

and was follow d by a t rribl , anari ivi war in t provin s, wit

t int rv ntion of for ign miitary fo s In Cina, on t ot and,

t r was rst a boody d f at of t uban insur tions bas d on t

Sovi t mod l, and lat r, und t onditions of t Japan s invasion, a

v ry long s qu n of p opl s war support d by r mot provinial

bastions in wi n w foms of pow r and organization w r b ing tri d

out. It was on ly at t nd tat a sort lassial war, wit ug battl s in

t op n ountsid , d stoy d t r ationay pars mi litary and

gov rnm ntal apparatus

Wat I am patiuarly struk by is tat t antagonisti onfrontation

wit pow r and t politial xp rim ntation ar not at a t sam , and

tat t fundam nta rit rion of tis diff r n is duration. Basia y, t

Sovi t r volution was arat riz d by t onvition tat all t pob

l ms w r urg nt and tat tis urg ny mad viol nt, radial d isions

n ssa in v domain T insurr tion and t atroiti s of t ivi

war ontroll d politial tim , v n w n t r volutiona stat was no

ong r und r any imm diat tr at T Cin s r voution, on t

ontrary, was bound up wit t on pt of potat d wa . It was all

about pro ss, not sudd n arm d tak ov r. T most impotant ting to

d is n was longang tr nds And abov all , t antagonism ad to b

aulat d as pr is y as possib . In t p opl s war, t pr s vation of

on 's for s woud b r f r d to glorious but us l ss attaks. And tis

r s rvation of for s aso ad to b abl to b mobil if n my pr ssur

was too gr at. H r , in my opinon, w av a strat gi vision: t v nt

at s a n w possibi li, not a mod fo t r al b oming of tat possi

bi li. T r may w l av b n urg ny and viol n at t b ginning,

bt t fo s tat r sut d from tis sok may av b n ditat d, on

t ontrary, by a sot of mobi pati n a longt m pogr ss tat

ould for a ang of t rrain witout, ow v r, r instating t absout

rul of insur tional urg ny or l ntl ss viol n .

But wat form, poitially, do s t pr s rvation of for s oppos d to

dominat ion tak ? T ror an tainly not r solv t prob m. Of

ours , it impos s a rtain p of uni, but a w

ak uni, a uni of



T E MMUNST DE ND E QUES N ERR R

ssivi n f r. To r s v on s forc s, n t for t uni of

tos forc s is lwys in t nl nlysis to solv int nl robl ms

witin t ol iticl cm conc rn . An w1 xprn ho

ha or

h long r ni /1r an gon i a n on 1 iLi ry or poL o

i agin n nor Trr wi hin your own p n roL h pl

y your

W/

poLi aL x n.

T s robl ms v to o wit t

m tos link to wt Mo cll t corr ct nling of contric

tions mong t ol . An trougout is lif insist on t fct

t

t t s m tos w r bsolut ly iff r nt fom tos tt conc rn

ntgonistic contictions

It is ss ntil to mintin tt communist olitics s ks solutions

to oliticl robl ms Communistp olitics is n immn nt ctivi, n

ctivi un r t sign of sr , not n ctivi t rmin by

xt rnl constints suc s t conomy or t l gl formlism of t

stt lt imt ly, v oliticl obl m boils own to robl m of t

uni of oi nttion on n issu tt is coll ctiv ly n s b ing t

min issu of t mom nt or of t sitution Ev n victo ov r t

n my ns on t sub ctiv uni tt ws t victors . Ov r t

long un, t k y to victoious tr tm nt of ntgonisms li s i n t

cor ct nling of contictions mong t ol wic lso ns

to b t r l ition of mocrcy.

T ror ss rts tt only stt co rcion is qul to t tr ts to t

ol s uni in volution rio. Tis i ntully wins t

sub ctiv suort of mny ol w n v r t ng r is normous n

t son wi sr . But it soul b un rstoo tt T o is n v r t

solution to robl m, b cus it is t robl ms sur ssion T ror is

lwys f r mov from t , insmuc s it r lc s t iscussion

of oliticl robl m loct t t bo r b tw n t I n t stu

tion, wit butl focing of t sitution tt swllows u t coll ctiv

l tion to t I long wit t robl m T rror consi rs tt, by its

ost nsibly sifting wt it clls t blnc of w r, t rm t rs of

t robl m will lso b sift , mking solution ossibl . ltimt ly

ow v r, v y obl m su ss by forc , v n t obl m of ti

tos, is boun to tun Accustom to solutions tt r solutions in

nm only, t stt ofcils t ms lv s wl r rouc int rnlly t

b tyl of t I tt t y v bnis xt rnlly. Tis is b cus

w n t I , inst of lying in t obl ms os by t sitution,

s rv s to usti t t rroist bolition of t s robl ms, it is in s ns

v n mor w k n tn it woul b by frontl ttcks on t its lf.



I 0

AD U

It is asy to s , t n, tat v ting ing s on t abii to giv t

formulation and r solution of probl ms t tim r quir d in ord r to

avoid t rrorst sortiruiting as mu as possibl . T main l sson

l arn d from t last ntus r volutions an b xpr ss d as follows

t poltial tim of t ommunist d a must n v r omp t wit t

stabls d tm of dominaton and its urg ni s. Comp ting wit t

adv rsa always l ads to t m r s mblan , not t r al, of for For

t ommunist Id a is not in omp tition wit apitaism; it is in an abso

lut ly asymm tr r lationsip wit it. As t dramati onditions tat

aompani d t ir impl m ntaton l arly sow d, t Sovi t v y ar

plans and Maos Gr at L ap Forward w for d onstruts. Slogans

lik at up wit England n n y ars impli d a foring, a p rv r

sion of t Id a, and ultimat ly t obligation of impl m nting T rror

T r is a n ssa slown ss, bot d morati and popular in natur ,

wi s partiular to t tim of t orr t anding of ontraditions

among t p opl . Tat is wy t fat tat p opl work d slowly, and

som tim s not v mu, in soialist fatori s, ust as p opl work slowly

and oft n not v mu n Cuba sti l today, is not in its lf su a t rrib

ting. t was on ly it is only - a form of prot st in t y s of t world

of Capital Work tim annot b m asur d in t sam way w n it is

r lat d to t prodution of surplus valu - nam ly, t prots of t

oligary as w n t s ks to aord wt a n w vsion of wat p opl s

liv s sould b oting is mor important for ommunists tan to d lar

tat t ir tim is not Capitals tim .

n onlusion w an say far from b ing a ons qu n of t ommu

nist Id a, T rror atually r sults from a fasination wit t n my, a

mim ti riva wit it And tis ff t is twofold

Frst, it onfus s t onditions of t miita onfrontation wit t

n my insurr tion or war wi ar t onditions of t v nt of

lib rat ion, wit t onditions of t afrmativ onstrution of a n w

oll tiv ord r und r t sign of t pow r of t d a. W an say tat

T rror is t ff t of an quation of t v nt wit t v nt s ons

qu n s, ons qu n s wi ar t wol r a of t pro ss of a trut,

a r al ori nt d by a sub tiv body. n sort w wil say tat T rror is a

fuson b tw n v nt and sub t in t stat

S ond, t ff t of omp tition wit aptalism gradually l ads to t

Id a its lf b ing pur ly and simply abandon d in favour of a sort of para

doial vol n tat onssts n wanting to ai v t sam r sults as

apitalism w r as on atually want d, and to a

rtain xt nt r at d



TE C MMUNT IDEA AND T QUEI N RR R

I I

l

ondiions n ss n ord r

no

o i v sm r suls. W

su viol n sp illy d sroys is m of mnipion w s on

s of lf of um n no on of m 's pro yl In

nd w wind up wi p opl l Gorb v or u n Cin s

d rs wos only m is o b dmi d ino li goup r p

s ns

in rnionl pils oligy opl wo wn o n

ny

ng o b rcogn by ir suppos d dv rsi s. opl fo wom

Id s no m nng nymor op fo wom im of ll dff

n wl l v b n o onqu r pow in id ni. W n n s

T rro s ony nd d up b ing r nunion pr s ly b us i s no

llow d for p s vion of fo s nd r sifing b us i s no

d vo d os of is im s ny poliil oug mus o pr s rv

on b us i s no onsny

poL

p opl in x ris of

wd rnging lo nd nrl pow rs of f n d lib rion Only

s iz pow mov n or oupons ov m n in My 6 s

ody in Ep or on Wll Sr r pr s n s ppoximion of su

polizon w r s bo is own pl s nd is own m

T r n wl of ounis Id wi is s of nuy

now b ginning wi b on n wi r voluion urg ny wl b

p d by w n b d is s is in Knn s ns I s

no so u ng v n viol n on wi w will wn o r in

sus quo r r w wll wn v ing xsing o b som ow

urv d n n w sp wi n w dim nsions W wil l nd for Id

w i l d l fo wi fuous impi n of T rror ws

bo us nd p w wi l nd bsolu ind p nd n of

bo is pl s nd is i .





2

Communism as Commitmnt Imagination, and Politcs

Etenne Babar

rst ting tt I wnt to do is tn t orgniz rs of t onf r n

for t ir invition. Ad in priulr I wnt to xpr ss my d p grtitud

to

Alin Bdiou: not ony b us ould no oin us in p rson in tis

onf

r n tt d nir ly pnn d in los spiritu ommuni wit

Slvo

Z

i , nd is now xp ri ning rdsip but b us it is ntir y

du o is r p t d nd p rson insis n tt I d mys lf tonig in

your omp. Alin nd I r v ry old fri nds, going b lmost o

w n I m t im for t rst tim , toug in os rly y rs I ws too

impr ss d by is pr oious pi losopil mst ry nd t g diff r n

form d n unbr bl brri r, ow v r smll it my pp r y rs

l r. Soon ft r tt d id d on ompl t ly spontn ous nd g n r

ous mov o o in t sm group of young pi osop rs gt r d round

Aluss r, nd imm di ly brougt to us n w impus wil dispying

bsolu glitrinism. on of us ould v r forg t tt Alin nd I

ov r y rs v d strong disgr m ns, bo pi losopi nd

poit il ding som im s to quit rs xng s it ws gin

s r ntly w n, r I d d in d in som wt ggr ssiv t rms is

proposl to oin onf r n on t Id of Communism ld in B rlin

in 20 1 0, wrot to m tt I d mng d n v r tond mys lf w r

tings r r lly pp ning, f r wi of us f lt oblig d o xplin

to t o r wy wt tougt ws not wort mu Bu w v

su d d in r mining fifu to on no r; I v t fond st m mo

of is signls of soidri nd g sur s of st m nd I v found mys lf

int ll ully r wrd d tim I v d to ngg wit is id s or

i s rgum nts. I m sd tt is not r tonigt, but I wi l try to s

if w r nd ddr ss im s if ould r t or v n r spond.

titl t I d propos d wit only vgu id of ow I would

tr t it in d til - Communism s Commim nt, Imgintion, nd olitis

s d m to build n rgum n in wi I onfront my own r tions



TNN BALIBAR

wt propostons from som of our ont mporr s, n protgonsts

of t t on t n w ommunsm , nlung Bou n

Z

,

w s you oul p rps xp t from prof ssonl plosop r -

fo

l ows lss mo l s s t Kntn mo of t tr

trns n ntl or p rs ony qustrns n ntl qu stons, l t

n nonssl or r. rst qu st on, orr sponng to t ssu of

oin ,

n prs l ts

Who ar h ou J ha a w

oun hopingor In strong r t rms, wt o t y/w sr ? An t

nsw r tt wll propos , wos mpltons I wll t to suss s

mu s I n n su sort tm spn, s t followng: t ommunsts,

w ommunsts, sr to

1ang h worl in orr o o nor

ouL

As you not , I us otng sgntor for t su t of t

proposton ts mgu ng prt of t pro m w n s to

suss An I m us of formu longng o w llnown

Mrxn trton, prtlly onng wt our of ommunsm'

t som wt mo s two forml rt rsts wl l r pp r

n t n xt qu st ons s on qu ston, orr sponng to t ssu of

iagina n,

s t folowng

Wha a hw oun hinking o

or,

mor pr s ly, wt r t y/w

hinking in aan,

n t s ns of nt

tons of t un rstnng? An t nsw r s : t y/w r

iLy

in rpr ing h aL n whh oo

u t

api a

n t

ptlst so s on ommo prouton n xng , or

mo ll ' on ts prouton n xng In ot r t rms, t y/w r

v rs ly nt rpr tng ff tv sto n t mng Fnlly, t tr

qustrns n ntl qu ston s t followng: Wt r t y/w

oing,

or

tt r s to r tr v v rs trnsltons of t t rm

ona J

us y

lssl plosop rs wt r t y/w

naouring o o, riing a ,

gh ingor?

An t nsw r oul , I wll sugg st t y/w r prt

ptng n vrous struggl s of mnpton, trnsformton, r form,

r voluton, vlzton ut n ong tt w r not so mu orgnzng

s orgnzng t s struggl s

An now, wtout furt r o, t us xmn t rst qu ston, t

qu ston of ommunst ommtm nt r son wy I s t n ts form,

r lt to op s sr s p rps r ms , s tt I wnt to xpn rgt

wy n w s ns I ons r tt ntrl proposton longng to

wt Aln Bou lls t ommunst ypot ss s nsputl :

nm ly, t prmy of t r ltonsp tw n

a

n

Juj iiy,

n

s ons qu n t ntrnslly st rt r of t ommunst

sours , ow v r stort or svow t om s w n t pr s nts



C MMUNIM A C MMIM EN, IMAINAI N,AND P LIIC

is f as a ma as scous u I susp c a, in c ain conions,

ma iaism is u on of nam s of alsm, s inspual . Bu I

wan aso o xpain wy I i v a som of cons qu nc s of s

nispual fac a , o say l as, po maic How v , o say a

y a pol mac s no o c p mis , s on ly o as fo a

posopical isquison of cons qu nc s.

u of Baou s c nal fomula accong o wic communss

iv fo an i a o answ call of an a, aap liv s o

mo l povi y an a cou pu ly an

simply nf fom

xampl s w now of su cs, o iniviuals an coll civ s, wom

w cons o av n communss sinc h 6n oun ,

is s no an ni ly n w ac on a, nc uing, I p a, os among

m wo, fo wa v ason, goo o a, c m. y

w a aliss, o n onay an n cnica s ns of

m:

amng of ano wo an ay o sacc muc of i

v s, som im s al of , fo i convicion, as Max W woul say.

s was in u of Max, on of cl a s cas s of pacical i a

ism n iso of pilosopy an poli cs. Af ca s of a mps

on pa of som communiss no all of m, u among m som

of mos au nic o p s n pusu of communism as a poc ss

wiou a su c', is ig im o say a a os is a os , an no a

cyc , an a communism wiou a su c involv s a p fomav

conaicion. Bu wa ma s communis a su c iff n fom

o s s pimaily is o commm n o a c ain i a, wc is also

an a of cous . Bu on can a an aiional agum n, mo sp cu

aiv y non, i al o c o o civ of communis si

is no som ing a s pa of xising sa of affais. A v y

as s a

rn,

a isanc a coul com an ayss, w n

wh 1r

an

wh hr wL ,

o coul , an i is n is gap a

su c plac s s/ si o quo famous nion fom

Maxs Grn ogy o wic I wi un communism s al

mo m n ov coming xsing sa of affas - cang s nong

aou siuaon, caus su cs can i sis mov m n o

coniu o i, an y coniu o i on y if y si , wa v

coniions, ma a o spiua, wc can facilia o v n pouc

is su civ oi naion . So alism is coniion fo commu

nis commm n, o, , i is p ilosopica nam of a

commm n So fa, so goo; u now w av o ca fu y xamn

implicaons of a i o ogcal fac, on y on an s p y s p, an



6

ETENNE BAIBAR

p rps w my nd tt t rigor of Bdiou's insigt, br ing

wit wt cll d t p rfomtiv contrdiction , is so ccompni d

by c rtin blindn ss, or c tin r fusl to nvisg l t cons

qu nc s.

is will conc rn, sugg st, t plc of communism in world

of id s , t sub ctiv cons qu nc s of id istic convictions

i i,

o fai unJ in is t rmino lo, or id ntiction wit t quisit s

nd inunctions of n id , nd bov ll t modliti s of t b ing in

common und r t int rp l ltion of tt id , wic cquir sp cil

impotnc in t cs of t communist id , b cus tt id pp ns

to b pr cis ly

1 ia of 1 6ing in omon

in its pur st fom. But l t us

b v ry cr ful bout ll tis

A quic word, to b gin wit, conc rning t plc of communism in t

world of id s Communism is not t only id , not v n in t strong

s ns of n id of t nonxtn wh oug o x , ft wic t xist

ing stt of ffirs could b com diff r nt, ov com its imittions o

contrdictions, m i f rdiclly ot r, nd so on, or cn b r pr s nt d

s 6oing n , fol lowing n nticipto mov to wic will r turn.

And not v n in t v n stong r s ns of n id wic poss ss s t

ontologic nd pist mologic crct r of t bsolut nm ly t

coincid nc of t mr of trut nd t mr of goodn ss nd probby

lso, for tt r son, t mr of b u . m not sugg sting tt t r

r innit ly mny id s of tt nd in our int l ctu world, but t l st

t r r s v rl, wic w cn t to num t Justic , Lib r, gt,

Lov ,

Mnind, tur , t n iv sl, rut its lf, B , but lso

D mocrcy, c but lso Wr, in t form of t t rnl

o

n

ft r

ing v ting, t Mr t s n id l form of univ rslly b n cil

nd s fr gut d syst m of xcng s, n v r r liz d in prctic , but

wic cn lwys b op d for, nd for wic on cn scric c tin

int r sts , v n t tion or rt r t opl . Ev n ro r t is

importnt to notic tt w r c iv ll t s id s troug signi rs,

ind d mst rsigni rs t y plc t d siring sub ct in r tionsip

of d p nd ncy wit r sp ct to tis signi , ow v fr y cos n

is noting sp cil bout communism from tis point of vi w, nd tis is n

l m nt tt w will try to r ct on t

on i u n of6j ii;

r ltiv

to id s, insmuc s t y b r nm s, or pss troug signi rs. Wt to

do wit tis multipici? t migt b t mpting to xplin tis is c rtin

fo

rm of simpli d ltonism, wit t ologicl connottions tt ll t

id s wic r bsolut , or t rnl, s Bdiou would sy, r in fct id n

ticl, or form n nam for t sm bsolut . But tis is unint r sting



C MMNM A C MMMENT MANAT NAND P C

7

in

our cs b cus it blurs t distinctions v n t

oppoi ion

wic

giv s ns to t id of communism nd ccount for t

in 'uj iP

i

tt it ris s or t ind of im rtiv tt it nuncit s id

of communism b com s m ning ss if it m ns t sm s t id of

rop r or t id of t ur Mr t wic r n v rt l ss id s in

t sm ontologicl nd ist oogic s ns Bdiou c rtinly s

t nd

ncy to sugg st tt communism

only a

in t tru s ns of t

t rm or t Id of id s li Justic t id of t Good in t ilos

opy of lto nd conv rs ly tt

a

or for tis uros rt r

id l nd

oun

r synonymous t rms And s cons qu nc ll

t ot r id s r it r ot r nm s rps prtil nm s for commu

nism suc s Equli or Justic or t n iv rsl or

iu!a

of t

communist id suc s t Mr t t cs of t id of D mocrcy

r mins dubious is coud b form of pilosopic niv n

xpr ssion of is p rson commitm nt to communism t ssion tt

in

bits is own d sir nd so on . But I b li v t r is strong r r son

wic

is tt Bdiou do s not wnt to xos t crct ristics of

communism from outsid i n distncit d or v n r tivistic mnn r

but from t insid s p nom noogic ucidtion of its intrinsic

mnif sttion or r v tion . id r v ls its tru crct r only to t

sub ct wo d sir s its r liztion nd it is in tis crct r tt t

communist sub ct is int r st d How v r t probl m will now b com

tt it is impossibl to nyz nd to compr wt diff r ntit s

communist commitm nt from ot r commitm nts wic lso cn b

rtionl or mystic civiliz d or fntic nd so on

L t us sus nd for minut tis comrison nd r turn to t

pi

of t communist id . I b li v tt w cn xpr ss it by sying tt wt

w t communists d sir is

o hang h wor

s Mrx fmousy wrot

lb it tt did not inv nt tis id wic is piclly ostKntin nd

lso s r c d nts in t gnostic trdition Bt mor pr cis ly t y

wnt to cng t world m ning t l st in rst proximtion t

soci nd istoricl world t ns mbl of soci r ltions'

aLLy

w r by I folowing c rtin Mrxin formultions

an h

lv wiL b hang

or n w n will m rg insmuc s mn is

noting

ot r tn t immn nt r sult of its own conditions or r l

tions Or

h L' of h han,

i .

o· own Lif,

will b cng d It is

importnt to und rlin tis

Lo,

impli d in t combintion of t two

cng s b cus from t communist oint of vi w to cng t word

is unint r sting if it do s not d ultimt ly to n w form of lif in wic



1 8 EIENNE BALBAR

t m q

nL nc

b com s dff r t r v rsig t crc

t ristcs of lif d r cpitl sm prticlrly mi d comp titio,

r for p rm t rkg of dividls ccordig to ir pow r or

t ir vl , d i t lim t cs s limitio of s ss or v l ss id

vidls ) bt cgig t m vov s cgig t word, gi f

by tis t rm w d rstd t socil world Now t r is csl dssym

m t ts rticltio, wic cof rs dobt dly po t commist

id

ch ogL

crct r, bt t r s lso r trociv or r xiv

ff ct, wic llows t to mrk t diff r c wit

Lio chtoog

i

sp of obvios fti s, i prticlr wi r igios c tr d o t

p rsp ctiv of

p n

I m ot sp kig of t istoricl l gci s, bt

of logic og s) . I wi pr s t tis r trocv ff ct or r xv

dim sio of t id of commsm, wic is

pc l

dm sio d

r gi, t id listc d t rmito s obvios) t folowig form

ltog t m rg c of t w m or w m li f ) is possi

bl o if t word is cg d t world c b cg d oly if t

sb cs r xrctg t ms v s, mciptg t ms lv s from t

d t rmitos of xistg world, or t l st lr dy gg d

proc ss of s lf mcipto Ot rwis , r d m r of wt v r kd

wold b d d. Accordgly t prcticl, lb sbj ctv d r x

iv , dm sio w r tkg bot is so s cr o , i firy simp

s s of t rm. It corr spods to Vrwirng wic s lso

Vrw hung.

It s

h wor

wic cg s, d t cg s to

h wor

o ot rworldy r m - wc is v rt ss b comg rdiclly

diff r t d it cg s trog t mm t cto of it m ts

sbj cts w cod so sy dff r t rmioo mor dir cty

poitcl , its citz s), wo r r dy rsformig t ms v s ord r

to b b to cg t word . R m mb r g Mrx i S u of h

In rn ionL Woringn Aoc n,

1 6 t mcpto of t

workg clss s will b t work of t work rs t ms lv s. H sp ks of

work rs b c ry cof rs v rslistic dim sio po tis m .

Now tis cold s m igmtic, or p rps ttologicl, bt w c gv

t o r formio, wc s fr from oc t i prtcr b cs

it prtlly xplis con rr t fr of my commst tt mpts) :

t

coi n h co

or to t r ltio of t d of

commsm) s commitm t tt

x J onL in coon.

Commst

sbj cts commit t ms v s

ng i,

to b g wt i t form of t

limitio t critiq of ir idividistic s lf r d sir for

pow r domitio, qli) ord r to b com t

gn

of



C MMUNIM A C MMMEN, IMAGNAI N,AND P IIC 9

o tv trnsformton o f t word wos mmn nt r st w b

ng

of t r own v s (w t r n ss or ontng nt trnsto or

stng s not r mtt r w I v sd r wt q stons of

modt s nd t mport s)

r p rps now n spt of t br v of ts d srpton w

r m

ns prty gor

n poston to nd rstnd b tt r wt prod s

t t sm tm t str ngt d t prob mt rt r of Bdos

nd rstndng of t ons q n s of t d sm tt s rgty

r frm d T r s som tng strng n t ft tt Bdo fr q nt

r f rs to Lnn rtg tt wod pr s rv w r s n ft

most ntr y r v rs s t rtton of sbj tposton nd t ton

of t sgn r s s of t sbj t tt s so mportnt for Ln (nd

of

ors fortor b nd Ln t r r mns k t or not Fr dn

gy of t nyss of t ommn ff t of t d ntton of

sbj ts to ommon d or mod

[Vor6i

from w t y d rv

t r sr d god ) I t s s f for Bdo t ommnst sbj ts or

t sbj ts

in h oLu ,

w r so bsot sbj ts wos sbj tv

ton

s not

by t sgn r tt t y r ognz ' s mst rsgn r

bt on t ontr

h

from ts ont wt t r T t rog

n of t symbo nd t r b om s pr possb of b rton

rt s Bdo: t s n t op rton of t Id tt t ndvd nds

t

p to onsst s Sbj t" Ts mgt provd jstton

for t ypot s s tt t ommnst d s df r nt from ny ot r

(nd t r for ommtm nt n d ntton wt t ommnst d

works on ts own sbj ts n mnn r bsot y dff r nt from ny ot r

for xmp t d of t R pb or t d of t Lw or t d

of t Mrk t) b t tt t r s gr t probb tt t jstton

s ttoog: t ot r ommtm nts wod b t ronomos t y

wod nvov sbj ton to t mst rsgn rs on w t y d p nd

nd ft r w t y nm t ms v s w r s t ommnst ommt

m nt wod b tonomos or f yo pr f r s Kntn t rmnoo

t wod onsst n knd of

in rpLL n

of t ndvd s sbj t

Bt t n w n d to tk nto ont wt s m rg d s t sngr

d t rmnton of t ommnst d nm y t ft tt ts mp r

tv s r zton of b ng n ommon n ord r to pr pr for t word

T r i h , w u u mr r i y h i r b w ioea i l

h ir i r i ihi h b ir

2

Th a f Cmlll�m

. 239; h mr xi frmi i

L' 011 OIII�I,

V

i Biu v

Z

i ( (ri Eii ig , 20 ) , 3.



20 ETI

BLIBR

of common good Ad ifc com s r o - on

s civ pln s on isoricl pn

I is v sriing r o s Bio s mr d pr f r nc for

n d civ is fr from innoc n o crc riz in of comm

ni ff c longs o commnism s miin civi s w s n

i o com r liz in word j civ

n n

l ding o

noion of

n i;.

For xmp W wi cl si wos in nsi of

xis nc is mxim

Jingur.3

I is

x nc

wos in nsi is mxi

miz i is mximiz d cs i prov s incompil wi s prion

or n isoion of sj cs ms lv s A r Bdio cnno

r rn o conc ps p rps ll gori s) d s rv d in

ologicl riion o d scri pr cis y n in ns ' pricipion of

sj cs wo rnsc n ir own individi s y rnsc nd v ry

form of pow r r ion nd i rrcic sordinion o com m m rs

of gorios oy' . wic is of n w col civ S c in poi

ics A no y cnc is is so w r Bdio insiss on vi

impornc of prop r nm s in l r volion poiics n mrs on

provociv d f nc of soc c of p rsoni of cris

mic l d rs Mo r r n Slin ind ) insmc s y r pr s n

n incrn d pro cion of insrr cion pow rs of p opl nd

n lrpo iicl fncion of id wic is o cr w w

p op w r voionri s im y w commniss) I do no

sy is is i r sr or wold v noing o do wi i of

commnism in nm of w I cll d mom n go is ss ni

s cr' crc r in s ns in wic s clr r f rs o

hworlL

nJJ

on conr B I sy i r v s prol mic crc r

of noion of id lism Bdio s n ncy o void iscssing.

T crr n r rn of id of commnism consi r from poin

of vi w of is cons q nc s on formion of coll civ w ' iming

pr pring condiions of is own ss nil cng o n mod of

crc v n l goric nd v n or ov ll if i is no mo l of

n

u naL

crc pprs or

corpujuric,

mod of w

ologins c invisil crc ) s no on symolic d r

minions lso srong isoric r sons T y v o do wi

wr n ss of cons q nc s of no r mod l d gov rn mc

of poliic civi of commniss in nin n nd w ni

3 Aln Bdo, e Comm1Jf Hypothw (Ldo, Veso, 2 0

0

p

25 .

The CommuJ Hypothw, pp. 2-5.

5 Id,

p.

29.



C MMNM A C MMITMNT MAINATI N,AND P LTIC

2 1

c ntu s nm y t mo l o f

ry

(wt t v nm mtnts

ts lf y s by t cuc) , n mor g n rlly t mo l of t

,

or t cont stt so to sp k. So, t p forms prng o

ctrtc' fncton Bt t wol b mpotnt, I b v to r cognz tt

t

s ts own mbvl nt ff cts.

A smp pr s ntton of t wo stoy mgt go ts : gv n

t

fct

tt mo rn soc , n ot r t rms cptsm, s v lop n

x

fr of nvlsm m nng n prctc t sflton of

nvls n lmnton of v pot cton gnst comp tton n

soltu

bt so t fct tt t s comp nst ' fo ts ssouton of

solrt s n tr to contol t conctl n vol nt ff cts of ts

ssoton

(ot rws cl clss struggl o socl w) trog t

constrcton of pow f mgn commnt s' suc s t

n

or

v n

t

cL cun

t communst sub cts v b n ngg n

t p rmn nt q st for fom of commun n commnf lng tt

s bot

n

n

r n

tn ny of t s mgn

communt s ' (T Pol trt s t rst clss n sto tt o s not

s to mpos ts prtc nt r sts, wot Mrx) . T comprson

wt t nton s n t most mportnt bot storcy n nlyt

cly

Bou s scpton of t b comng coll ctv (t r fo b comng

r voton, on gv n stoc st ', lwys g ly unp ctb ) of

t

commtm nt to t commnst (wc c tnly ow s muc to

vos tors, from Snt Pl to Srtr , but nt r stngly n t r to

H g nor Fr u) forms sort of

rr

of t rgum nt tt ws

fmously v lop by Cl Scmtt: t nton myt s strong r tn

t communst myt n stngusng t fr n fom t n my, n

mxmz s t nt ns of t commun of f ns For Bou t s t

commnst my' or

cLLc ng pwr f h

wc s lwys y

mor nt ns , mo nvsb , b cus t s bs on lov t r tn t

(n um nt stkngly sm to t scos of N gr wt wom

ot ws Bo s n srp sgr m nt n

t ts conf r nc w

v r tt t y now sr t f r nc to Snt Fncs of Asss)

But

won r f ts sbtrcts t consttutv tonsp b tw n

sbj ct n commnst fom v y pt rn of ntcton, r pr

s ntton nton or nt p llton (wt v Fr u H g l Lcn or

Altss wol v c t) or on t contr cs for n tonl

nyss of t ctcs of

ubc n n ubc n

tt xsts n commu

nsm s t xsts n v commtm nt, b t n r forms wc cnnot

b com r c to sngl pr xstng mo



22

ETIENNE BALIBAR

I wll ow v to b v sc mtc o my s cod q sto, b cs I

wt to k p som spc for t td - ltog s s t s ts

s cod q sto tt cs fo t most d t l d r dgs d comp

sos. If ot occso povd s m wt oppot to cot

og t sm s, I wll ty to b mo xplct So I w sk yo

p rmsso to off d scpto of t rgm t d stt m t of

ts t t os, t r t t gm t ts lf. I fomlt d t s cod

q sto t fom: t r t commsts wt w commsts,

costtt d s w tog o commo commtm t to wt Bdo

gtly cls d )

hining in nc

coc g t stoy t

mkg, of wc t y/w pt - sstt pt or sbv rsv prt,

w mgt sy, wys loct d o wt Foclt wo c rtly ws o

commst) gv t Pscl m of

poin h?

Ad I t ttv y

sw d: y/w

i in rpr ing

t mov m t wc ov r

com s cptsm ot to sy

pcu ing

bot t) . I cold v sd: y

r dv s ly

n ip ing

t modlt s of t crss of cptsm d t

possbt s op d by tt css , wos m crct rstc s p cs ly

to b pr dctb ts otcom . I m coscosly plyg o t t rms

of

Mxs v t ss o F rbc, to sgg st tt ts st pt,

tog sot of stocl m ss, s ct d po t s cod.

It pr tto ws o ly r p ss d t t d s soo s t volto

cg , o t

chng of h chng

wc s p ps t b st possbl

d scpto of voto, m ly ot cotto of t o tto

d t stm ts of t spot os cg of cptsm bt dsco

t, r or tto towrds dff t gols, d v sl of t

m s of dl ctc tsfomto s H g wold sy), pssg fom

stt s d d s to mss s d od m wtot qlt s - s

soo, I p t, s t s volto cg dsply d t s tsc qv

oc

or c t o coct. Bt ts s ot gtv fct,

ctstopc v s o t coty, t s pofody ssoct d wt

two cct stcs of

coun hining

wc cl fo wol pst mo

ogc lboto.

st s tt commst tkg, ctg o t css of cptl

sm wt t p sp ctv of s tg coll ctv sb cts to ts

d v lopm t, c b d scb d s p m t x cs poj ctg t

poltcl mgto to t tol x cs of t d stdg, fo

wc I t to s t Kt ct go of t

n icip in

I m ot o

dog tt). A tcpto s ot

p n,

t s s wc

postvst socl sc c t s to prodc pr dctos, t r o gd



MMNSM AS MMTM IMAGINAT NAN TS

2

hstoc scl or wth th lmts of c fl ly solt d mod l or syst m

of m thodologcl smplctos most of th tm mplctly gov d by

pctcl th for poltcl mp rtv s) It s lso ot

pph

cllg

or oc m t whos chrct rstc s r p ttv t mpol d

hstocl d t rmcy whch fct xpls ts r sstbl pow r o

c rt ct go of sb cts) Bt t s tt mpt t d tg wth

th

pr s t ts f th lmttos whch r so lmts of possbl xp r

c wh r th prodcto of th xstg strctr s th cotos

lzto of th ogog t d c s or th pplcb of th stg

soltos to cs s d cotrdctos wll prov mpossbl d th r

fo cll for h t og os ctos I d b t formlto o ths

pot by Slvoj

Z

k th volm fom B rl s Cf r c lst y r

p c pto of hstocl r l ot s postv od bt s o

l compl t t xt whch t ds towrds ts ow ftr It s ths

cls o of th ftr to th p s t ts cso s rpt wth

th

od r of th pr s t whch mk s th pr s t otologcly

compl t ol l d ths plv s s th voltoy s lfd ploy

m t of th proc ss of hstorcl d v lopm t short t s ths

pt whch dstgsh s hstoc prop r fom hstocsm

h s cod r l vt chct stc of commst thkg s tht

t d c s r lwys ccomp d by cot t d c s thkg s

hsto s Althss r ws v r tr d of r p tg - d pobbly th

two

tscly lk d: t s th fom of tth tc tcptos of

th ogog trsformtos of th p s t tht th mt r coct of

t d c s d cot rt d c s hsto o soc b com s th o

r tcy xpr ss d v f ot dr ctly or d qt ly Ad th for t s

smch s w cr fl ly d scrb d dscss pllsm of t p t

tos of whch w r lwys pt os lv s) wh t d to dv g th r

th cov rg towrds th sm dgos s th sm coc pts th sm

crtq s th sm tops tht w my hv chc to d t th

ply of t d c s d cot t d c s fo xmpl th css of

cptlsm whch d o p s t p s t tht s fm d wth

compl t ss d ocot mpo I short th s tcpto

6 Cmmwm . 308. d a s fua s a a a

a g -

Z

as a uda a sa dsag u t

a u - t s t ssu sa d d as a ug a

d Est



T BAIBAR

mgto wokg wt t d stdg, b cs t s

c ss o d t, bt cog cy d dv g c T s coc p

tl rna n I ss, o mp ssostc mtos.

It s b my t to fo som tm o to dd ss t s ss s

tog cofotto of two tos wo ply pom t ol

cot mpoy d bt s bot commsm d d f d stkg oppos

v ws of t volo, o mo g y t cg , sg fom oppo

s m todolog s m y Slvoj

Z

k o o sd d t os

Hdt d N g o t ot O of t m s togt, ogz g

ts cof c t ot s ot, wc s d stdbl fo Aoo

N g b cs s st b d fom v l g to ts coty, bt l ss so

fo Mc l Hdt, os bs c , w v ts cs s, I d q

g ttbl . I wll gv qck d of wt ts cofotto sold

focs o my v w.

I v foml, t xtl so o s p s pl l, bt I b v t

s ot d pv d of l vc v to t st g c d b s wc coc

t tgostc ltosp b tw cptlsm d commsm, b cs

t gds t tt tc ltosp to Mxsm, d s cos q c

to t coc pt of stoy (o stocl tm , . stoc) volv d

Mxsm. It s s f c of m d

oa

t l m s of Mx

coc pto, pcl t m ts of t fmos opogpy (to

boow Altss s t molo) wc llows Mx to xpl t

dl ctcs of sto d t vtb tsfomto of cplsm to

commsm, ts sog dmt dly ot tt t of t s l m ts

ws bty Mx, bt tt t ws pdoxc, gy dp d o

p sppostos tt ot d t ly bl , d tt os fom t

t l ctl d potc codtos of mom t wc s o og os.

It wold b mc too smp ow v to xp tt, fom ts opog

py,

Z

k t d oly

up ru u,

l N gHdt d

t

b

stto s mo complct d b cs fct, s d s of

t ow d P fc of t 1 9

Con r on o h Cr qu of ol aL

Eono

wll m mb , t topogpy cossts of ot o ly o, bt of

wo wo,

o fo dstct sc s, b wc comp x t

ply b com s mg d o sc mtz d by Mx: t sp stct s

dvd d to jdclpoltcl fomlsm d d ologcl stc

cosstg of foms of socl coscos ss wt wc stoc

coct b com s fogt ot

afh n,

w s t bs s dvd d to

stct of tosps of podcto wc ss tlly foms of

pop , d toomos mov m t of podctv foc s



C MM ISM AS C MMIMEN IMAIATI AND P IICS 2

k

w som po om omp w

sg

r os o prodo. Ad s prdoxl om

o

o

wo xr m ' s s d olo d prodv or s w

os s

ss mov m or mol gg' s or

r r x d ord r o Prop r d S , ord r o v

gv or r volory g Ts mor omp x pt r

lows s o d rsd w

Z

s ss lly xr d rom

Mrx s dl o d oo o s mp d g o wr d olo)

gs pprs s o S , Pro r d Lw w r s Hrd d

N gr v ss ly xr d ol r osp w

prodv or s d sm sys m o pprs s w y ll

pl o Prop r' r w s volm

Cnw

O

ors s ds o m o r orml d dp q ss

lly rms w y so d prr r voory

rm

y

s o

Z

p f

s o Hrd d

N gr

omg plosopy so d pol lyss Ad o

ors ,

or o m rm s sd d ppropr

d y o r r pr s s ss lly g rm o v ry msd rsdg

o pos d dv rs o g omms mod o o

o r w pr s : s prodv or s' or

Z

wold l d w vsm rlsm voosm progr ssvsm

d dmro or r v p s o plsm s oom

sys m d s d olo' or Hrd d N gr w wod d

w volrsm sprsm d sosm rrorsm, d oslg

or vo rv os o or r voory g s rom ov

sg pro r qv o org os s o do s pow r.

B lso posop l v s os or y

v r losp o H g l gy Mrx l gy

s mxmz d or v r ly r r d y

Z

w r s s

dsmss d y Hrd d N gr og oros y N gr

o ) s pr xpr sso o mod rs r d Mrx w

mpsz s mpor o m o rsorm os

pow r o mld o gl os d ow r gs w

N gr dvo d mod r' o Mv d Spoz ow

r prs d s rv mod ') B g s o oo smpl

s , s s

Z

, r s o pr H g sm lso s

sry rv o o slm l m o rror yod or

dl s w d d ow s m o xr m rpr o o

H g l d srpo o voory rror, n d



t ccots fo t fct tt t som pot, t l Lc s s

wll t to t ologcl lm so to sp k v t ts fcto

Sm ly Ht N g t s sot of mg l ctcl

m t o y cs cot wt t tt coct, mo

p cs ly clss stggl g t s t v y v opm t of t poctv

foc s t tsc ltosp b tw t cc composto

poltcl composto of bo t l st t t pot w t

ogc of t syst m of poctv foc s b com s toomz , o

b t (ts s t gcy of N gs t ll ctl poltc fomto

wt t ks of Itl

opo

fo wc ly pys tbt to t

ptb kg t v to of Mo ot) . So w to st

tt, ts cofotto o l ss t f ogpy of t p o

sopcl potcl t mtos of volto togt s

volv wc ps s s to cos t

hoi

tt Mx ot wt

to mk bt lso tt w wol ot v to mk wtot Mx t

v lopm t of cotctos t l gcy of Mx ts pctcl

mpl m tto Ts s ot to sy of cos , tt ot g s wo b

vt to compl t xmto of ts tc ptt , t

s s of splyg t pots of sy of Mxsm sowg t

omos vc Bt t

Z

kN g cofotto s t o

mos t st of l sttg cl pol.

Now, o to m ts pol t most loq t possbl

m , wl mg ftf to t t molo t scos ,

I

wll cll t mgtv tcpto of t stg of sto

La

Z

k v vol c (followg t footst ps l t by t ft wo of

s xto book,

In Dfn of o CJ,

w ppopt s

t B jm t moo) I w c t mgtv tcpto

La

HtN g of cos xos foowg t cto of t l y

m to

CoonwLh

t t volm t t o tt b g wt

Epi

(so xos s xos fom t omto of mp tt tk s

plc s t Imp l t toy ts lf o to pt t D l z t ms

t s t

Lin of p

tt pp s possbl , o vtl p s t, w t

pow of t mtt tt mp t to cotol t tolz

b com s cotobl ) . A I w smmz t foowg m

wt s ms to m to fom, c tm , t

an qion,

v t

inap

b qJn

tt t y skg, t

phoophaL L

tt t y

g sptbl m t

inin pbL

tt t y

ts op g to b t s mc s possbl , syt tc' p s

tto of t tcptos of t voltoy stg (bt



MMUNISM AS MMITMNT, IMAGINATI NAN P LTIS

27

syt ss wtot syt ss or o tt r ms sctv g

ow or my c ctc cpc or t mptto to occpy t m tg

posto, wt s c Fr c t

u,

t r or I o my st to

v op

wt s, ct, por tc).

O t s o

Z

v vo c , I v tt t sot y

corr ct q sto s y m In Dfn f C prtcry o

p 2 s t o owg o How r w to r votoz or r wos

v prcp s costt s r votoz g Ts s q sto wc

s cos y to t t rpr tto o t rtcto tw r vo

to t v opm ts o cptsm ts cpct s o mo rzto),

w r y wt pp rs to v t cs t st c try ws ot

t ct tt r votory orc s css strgg s r pr s t mo s

o soc orgzto

n n p

t t ct tt cp

tsm wys r t or o t cpc to oct ts yo t

r c o t s css strgg s. Bt t s so l to t t rpr tto o

t w p o cotro tt mo r cptsm p rorms o s ctvt s

Fr t rms, t r v rs o t cto o t sp r go wc

s ot to sppr ssg t sr or oym t ctg t mr r

o

t t r wt scp gt, t to octg gt t cpc

o t v to rt ms rom costrts mmo rt y

s t stscto o s ms o t mr t y, most

crcy, t s to t crtq o

y

s mst rsg r s

to proc votry s rvt or o r soc t s, rc

costtto wy to smss vc , stgmtz , xpos to t

rt sppr sso o t go poc y mov m t o r o, or

trsgr sso o t w t mp r prstc or r, tt r s wt t

strz costtto o mort s ot , ct, to t vrt s

o t prm t syst m com wt m strto o or

mto, t s mort s r t ogrcc mort s)

Bt ts s so w r - my opo - t ct s g wt t

sc ro o v vo c , po tcy posopcy T r r t

st two wys o rstg t ormzg cto o mocrcy

wt t p rm t r voto o cptsm O wc

wo

vor - s t tt wt crr ty cots s mocrcy s ct

proc ss o mocrtzto', so tt t r v r xsts ytg

mocrcy voc s s , t oy ss coct

w proc ss s o mocrtzto proc ss s o t mocr

tzto o mocrcy, r cmg q rgts q rt s or t

ctz s, wc c t t r vo t or ovo t orm p g



8 E BAL BAR

o rumst s d r tosps o o s but ys poss ss s

surr to r r Ts s r om o gv bt s ot

t o tt

Z

p rs b s t ls d sost t r or

t JPin) m t vov d t otos o dv vo d

pssg om t smp trsgr sso o t or r sst to t

oppr ssv ord to t rror ss ty d s t rms o

t o v bs o r o t os qu s o ompromsg

wr

o possb o q d js t or bs o t

o d bot gv d v d: ts s d , o o t

mport d s b

Z

d Bdo ss or o o

oog d t p m tto o t ommust d t or

lso xst o t d t dv )

Ts s s o

Z

ot oy prv g s L st t

pr to o Mrxsm - v d t r voo mus b possbl

r ts so odtos o possbl ot gv b us

r tosp tv y ts o odtos or pr r qst s t ors o s

v m d t ys pr s ts d so to ty t mposs

b os os q s o d probbly rul - bu so

r turs om t L s o pt o t dttorsp o t pro trt to

ts mod o

Urb

ob t ror os ss l motto s y s

s Rob sp rr 's v r d tutoo: Cz s dd yo t r vouto

tou vouo ' oug

Z

bry mg s to d orr

spod b s ormu d t H g oo o voluo

tt ud s ts r omo or r pr s

b s o

ts brll

( brin,

) d mosro I b v tt

r prood dl mm o g t posop s m o

gto o t gto ts v y us tt m o

r voutory s m s try to pply t m to oppos t os rv

tv tos o d mory s syst m o t dspg o t xpot d

ss s d t pro ss s o d d mortzto t d mor

om o t stt . A r voto

n wih in

do s ot smpy m

t r to o d mort d t m s x d so or

v b t r s Bo Bost ls rgty sgg sts s x dsus

so o

Z

Ai; f Cz

tot

r vouto r rs o r orm d r orm o r to o t stus quo.

So t s t p ros x ss tou t s o d b t

ormto d r om d t rl sub v ormo o t

volor s ould b om ds rb rom sub to mpos d

rom bov But t s so or t sm so l p outsd t d t



C MMUIM A C MMITMET, IMAATI AD P LITIC

29

stutos or sum ruso o r l o symoc

r y s H g p r cly k d xpl d

nmnLy,

t

r vouor s com suj cv ly u to dst gus d sruco o

ol ord r rom r ow s l sruco smuc s t y r t m

s lv s producs d x mprs o old ord r Ts s t prol m o t

qu o go t r l gto' I my sy so (or cv

gtv) t

Z

k prooudly orks troug o rcks o

r H g lz d Mrxsm u s lso xtr mst r dg o H g l t

c cosd r s cotruo to t por tc pro m o tcp

os o commusm uly cc ptg s srg po t crqu o

t l o progr ssvst Mrxsm o cop t t trsormv

cpc s

o cplsm u ckol dgg t t dscto

in

d

gto

min

d

inin

gv

s xtr m y rd o d so d op to xp ct r turs o

d rv

L m ow sy som g smr out Hrt d N gr As

sugg st d r y mom t go I tk

p

gcy o r m

v ry mport t r t kg u t s l ds o ot r k d o d

cul loct d mm d vc o t s proy r mos

r stg

coruto o postMrxs tougt - m ly t r r or

mulo o t coc p o pi f opoltcl rms

volvg t y cll couso' o t rdtoy d stct proc

ss s o producto' d r produco ( s s o r produco o

l vg cptl s md o vg dvdus' o r our

proc ss s prouc rs ud r coro o cptl) F y ds to

rsormto o c gory lour' s t ws d d y dusrl

cplsm (l wy log rom dusrl r vouto o t trs

ormtos mp m d y Fordsm d w r cpsm ud r t

mpct o work rs strugg s sd d ousd cory ut lso

ud r t mg r t o Bos v k r vouo rgy

d y N gr r ll t ssy rom t 970s s d c sv cus o

K y s r orm) mor g rl mor v rs c gory o cv

t m rg s mu our w cu our d com s

t rol ut tr dm sos o xpoo w ctv '

dm so o r proucto o t lour orc wc roc

m r (sc o r plc s y us stcy dors

qin

o

t

ct gory o g d r moutg o r ltvzo o dstcos

r d rom ourg os m y t m d

mscul ro s d d s) y o o s o cl



0 ·EE BALBAR

f miiztio of lbor - f miztio w is so sort of trl

istic trto . . .

As w kow my tgs r r t t sm tm gy t r stg

lso igy isptbl sp ily for Mrxists i t rms of bot

o pt sc mtism t it rpr ttio of stori t i s

T issso of t ct gory lbor is sp lly fritfl b cs wi

it r ms fitfl to t tt lbor s c trlly politic t gory

s mc s oomic o or t iscsso of r volto poitics

wc t y so c isrr ctios' i t bro s s ) it mst r mi

ir ty root i t ctivi of t proc rs if ot c ssrly t

wit istoril gr of t

workr (r Arbir,

t l st wt

iscsso of

w hppn in

so to sp

o

t proctio proc ss

It so sgg sts tt t trsformtio of t ct go lbor ito

mtit r ctiv of t iiv - i fct oly tikbl s

iL ctivi wys lr y r qirig t rio form coopion

b tw iivils

wic for Mrx for xmp i fmos pssg s

of Grmn ooy form t orizo of t ommst trsfor

mto of t proctiv for s w t y v r t stg of

formig totl t t globl v is ow osi r

fi ccompli

r cptlism its lf. Most r rs of N gri Hrt xc pt t ir

tsisti spport rs r sist tis i bt I b v tt it s rv s

r fl issso T r is sbtl i ft otl r ltiosip to t

opn

l m t i Mrx ivolv r . O t o Hrt N gri

t to crtiiz lyss of t t sios b tw nrw tiitri

istittio of wg bor omit by t imp rtiv s

of cptist

cmltio wi r otio of

cii

ivolvig its mltp tro

pologil im sios ml it ll t rtiol ff tiv )

tt wol postpo t ito t ftr i t m of t critq of li

tio Ist t y wt to pro t t topi ito t pr s t mk

t t p rm t orizo of or rstig of ot mporry cpitl

ism. T gr t l p forwr is compis w s Mrx xpi

i

CpiL

- t pro ss of proctio ws ot oly protio of

goos commot s w m s of protio bt so

rpcion

v

nlr pcn

of t cpitlist soil r tos t ms lv s.

T y ow xpi tt t r protio i its most imm it vtl

sp ts s b om so profoly it grt to t proto proc ss

tt it xpo s t cotrol of t xistig forms of prop r r gltio

sipi pow r giv s rs t l st pot tlly - of cors tis

pot tii is t wol q stio - to

onoy

or xos of t



C MMNM A C MMTMEN IMAINAI NAND IC

1

ng forc s nd t r coop rton from t commnd o cptl Ar w

not r n t most btnt orm o wsfl tnng n t nm o

storc mt rlsm In ny cs w r c rtnly n pc form of

progr sssm n prtclr b cs Hrdt nd N gr v n vow d

t nd ncy to g n rlz wt t y pr s nt s t most dnc d nd lso

sb rsv orms of ctv wtn cont mporry cptlsm wc

s t old t rrtort s nd t od forms of t dvs on o lbor s

t lr dy pr s nt mg of t ftr tt s wtng prodctv

ct sp clly n r ton to t nt ll ctlzt on nd t f mnz

ton of bor

My own crtq o Hrdt nd N grs grnd nrrtv wold ocs on

t followng sp cts of t r rgm nt bt lso for t sm r sons

mpsz

qn

tt wt t r lp nd q commnst sbj cts

wo r lso t nkng sbj cts w cnnot n k, n kp n n wt w

ntcpt

Frst I wold sy tt t y t nd ncy to

ign h cn

-nnc

n t d v lopm nts tt t y d scrb or mgn ) t r for

nncng n oltonst v w of t d lopm nt nd trnsformtons

of cptlsm Ts s prtclry tr for t r d scrpton of t nt l

ctlzton o lbor mosly strt d long go by N gr trog s

mpss on t sng pg w r Mrx s d t t rm g n rl nt ll ct

n

ngs) wc plys crc rol n t r rgm nt tt t

lw f

l

l nk d to cptlst xplotton s trnsform d b cs t prots of

cptl or s t y pr r to sy t n w

n

xtrct d by cptl) ss n

tly d rv from coop rton mong t prodc rs m dt d by

proc ss s of commncton nd nt ll ctl nnovton wos r slt s

not

m srbl ts wold b t m rg nc o t n w commons'

wc n trn ntcpt or lr dy ngg )

n cn

t y fly

ndors nd xtrpolt t t ory nd t prctc of t cr t

commons') . Bt t y gnor or mnmz t cont rt nd ncy nm ly

t ggntc forms of stndrdzton m cnzton nd nt nscton

of nt ll ctl lbor sp cly n t lds of

formton t cnolo

wc trog t s of ron dscp n nd svg constrnts on

pr cros workorc corrobort d n t n w nt ns of pysc

sff rng n ts compt rz d ctt s) forc s coop rton to r trn

nd r t lw of l nd so to sp k r mk s pysc lbor ot of

nt ll ctl lbor t ct go of bopoltcs s msl dng r t

s ms to m ) . Sm lry on t sd o t f mnzton of bor nd t

nt grton of t f ctv dm nson of t r prodcton of t vng

forc s of prodcton nto t prodct proc ss ts lf t y gnor t



2

ETIE BALBAR

cont rt nd ncy wc s b n wd y sz d by r c nt d bt s

on t s s of t n vy fsonb ct gory of t

to r cr t fors

of sv ry sp cy trg tng t f nn workforc fro t Gob

Sot trog t g n rzton of s contro d crnz d gr

tons) bt so t good od os wv s nd soc work rs of or

d v op d contr s Or p rs

hy o no Z oz r nn?

In tt cs t y sod d v o t r tnkng conc rnng t

�

mnn

tt or tn v r ff cts t t nsons b n xpot d

bor nd n ctvty n g n r ncdng ts contrdctory r ton

sp wt fors of co rc d nd tonoos coo rton nd t y cod

ts contrbt to dscsson of t xt nt to wc r sbston'

of v ry s ct of t n f nd r t cond of ct s n fct

possb or lm wtn cts ts f wc k s t os

sb to cr t r cts or n bsot cts v n n t

g of n ob rs Ts t otco of cptst d v o nt st

r n ssp nd d nd nc rtn Bt ts s n s ns r v rs r dng

of t r noton of xods.

S cond I wod sy tt t noros nt r st of Hrdt nd N grs

dscsson of t boo tc ' d nson of t trnsfortons of

bor nd ctvt so s n t fct of ts osng fr s consd r

ton of t r tons b tw n Mrxs nd t ss of

n opoo

rn of wc t n nd t nt ct t rton nd t

ff ctv bt bov t s x dff r nc s nd t dff r nc s of

g nd rro s r c x s) Agn t y r rs sgg stng

q ston tt t y too qcky r sov or wos r soton n t r

t rs s not t ony ossb on . Ts s b cs noton of bopt

c r son nd t prodctv of bod s' ows for t ntrodcton

nto t otc cooston of t ttd of t dff r nc s

wtot wc t r s no r r s ntton of t n bt wc so

cn n v r b co sy nd for v r ncst d nto dnstrtv

socoogc nd sycoogc ct gor s b yond t sp od of

t orgnzton of ndstr nd co rc bor Bt t so t nds

rdoxcy, to homon t tpc or dv rs of soc r

tons sbj ctv ostns concts b tw n dontons nd

r sstnc s wc t tr s to rtct I wod sgg st tt t

orr

l pl

tt s nvov d n t consd rton o t s ntroo

ogc dff r nc s to wc w sod dd ot rs tnc nd ctr

dff r nc s nor nd bnor dtood nd cdood nd

so on) s n fct gr t r tn sc conc ts s prodctv forc s ' or



C MMUIM A C MMIME IMAAI ,AD P LITIC

bopo cs ow s o . Ts s o o sy c m prob

mc of commo o commo s o volv d sp cy

fom

of co cv sgg s gs s of dff c s o so

d

oppo

s vs mps bsg so s o r os

d

p c s B s og g s s

i1,erJe

ted ' {erence

w cob o sm or o sg o

d of commsm - o o ly mos bsrc form fo xmp

c

mg q ) ow v mpo s po cy. Oc g s

s pobl m w my w o scrb po c colm of

comms kg s dv rs rpr o of rsformo of

word v s ly g m of soy

w ' mg B g s cs of

Z

r wod b o

wy o sc

dv s of rpr os s bo

r l coc o y v f oboy c ly k sk

of body coos g o of bc s of coc p omy.

I

r z ow I v xs d my m so I w o cy

p s my r po d I wl o y c mos

gpc m wc sp cs I wol y o rc d I w do

mor ff cv y s soo s s m spc or o oppor

fo ) .

I wo sr w smp cosd o w c kow oy

after

h eent

w commss do - ow y c wc sgg s y

ors

wc cocr cs s y g for - w y r cofro d

o o y w r ow s b w xsg soc codos d

r dy gv poc v s wc s wys cs prcc .

How v sm d s s pr of bo sb cv ogc of

commm c src of cpo) y c

v r by d o obs v q s d o poso of w

s '. y o do s g or v wpo from wc

cocos of mcpoy sformv d I wod dd so

cv g - pocl mov m s fo xmp gs foms of xr m

soc d po c cr c b com rdcz s Bo wod

sy s d From s po of v w pg of Mxs

Cm

ManlJto

s xody sg d v g b cs sm

osy fms wo gs fc p r m

my op o comp y c or p rps v b com c g)

O s commss o o fom

JpeciL parh;

o p

y form s og s g r s d g mov

m of xs g pr s p rps w col sy g c rms



4

ETEE ALAR

n ion

psing mncipto obj ctiv s nd s ing to tnsfom

t wod s cond is tt t conv g nc of tis g n l mov m nt

is

gnt d in Mx by t fct tt t pol tins pdoxicl

clss s w now diff nt fom ny ot soci css in fct it is non

clss ccoding to t t ms tt d n soci clss s in pst nd p s nt

soci ti s) combin j ction of

priv propr

wit j ction of ntion

list p dic s o ts simply sy

h n nL .

Tis is wt llows

Mx to d c in mnn t t sm tim istoicl nd pop tic

tt t commnists nd t po tins niting t t l v of t

wol wod bt two nm s fo t sm col ctiv sb ct t l st

in

po n L.

As I v g d on p vios occsion w v lost tis

conviction Bt w did not los t w n ss v n t ct w n ss

of t impotnc of t pob m t nttiv conclsion I dw fom

tis is diciztion of t id tt t commnists do not fom

sp cic p' I giv it t fom int ntionly povoctiv : t comm

nists s sc c tinly pticipting in ogniztions nd in t

ogniztion of mov m nts cmpigns o stggl s b cs t is no

ff ctiv politics witot ogniztions ow v div s t i g cn

nd mst b d p nding on t conc t obj ctiv s. Bt t y not

bilding ny ogniztion of t i own not v n n invisib on t y

t

ning h ing n n

t v y ogniztions in

wic t y pticipt : not in t s ns of nd mining t m fom t

insid o b tying t i fi nds nd comd s in t middl of t bttl s

bt in t s ns of q stioning t vlidi of t distnc s

d incompt

ibiiti s v l most of t tim ) b tw n diff nt p s of stggl s

nd mov m nts. In tt s ns t y ss ntily p fom n gtiv fnc

tion

in t fom of v positiv commitm nt

Fo tt fnction I ws lwys t mpt d to boow onc gn nd s

ot s dy v don t fmos nm of t Vnising

M dito inv nt d by o fi nd F dic m son in is xtodin

ssy comping t fnction of t cobins in Mx's t oy of t

constittion of t bog ois stt nd t fnction of Clvinist

Pot stntism in t tnsition towds mod n nt p n il cpitl

ism s s n by Mx W b 8 Tis ws b cs m dito cn b

int p t d s g of t mpoli o istoici bt so s g of

sptii tnstion nd t otopy: Vnising M dito is vnis

7 S Occasoa ot o ommsm , avaa at krss u

8 S F dc am o, Th Vash g M dao, o Ma W as Stot , T o/ogi of

Tory, vo 2, out dg 988, 3-3.



C MMUIM A C MMI TMET IMAIAI AD LIC

g rv ll r cross bord rs tt c b g ogrpc bt so cltr d

polc cn b rnsltor b tw ncompb doms nd org

ztol logcs - nd ord r to do tt my v to

chn nm,

wc

s mpornt d to dscss w r sp ct to commns potcs tody

d ts b g oct d som m s p rps most of t m w r w do

o s t . How v r wot losng b n ts of ts crc gory

no r r f r nc com s to my mnd wt wc I wnt o concld

provsol ly d wc s fnt s wt t l gory of t Vsng

M dtor ltog n s ns r cts dff r logc Ts s

Ass r's d r p t d s v rl tm s t p osop rs bt n fct

ws

tkng of commnst plosop rs' nd I sbmt t w cn r d

ly x nd ts cons d ron to commnsts n g n rl) r tos wo

dspp r n t r ow nt rv nton vns f yo lk ) s s w

ccordg o m d mostr s s mc s possb t s n rv non

ws

c

Ts s of cors v dff r nt d from t on propos d

by

Bdo tt commnsts dsply t r d to n d wos cons

q nc s t y ct: not so mc p rps b cs prctc n d

wold b dff r nt ts s of cors s wys poltcs mtt r of

crcmstnc s t codons nd t forc s b b cs t posop

cl r f r nc s ntt tc: not St Pl or Pto bt Spnoz d

possbly Mcv ll . I m not skng yo to coos m st sgg stg

onc gn tt w r ct on t dv rs of t nt rpr tons





3 On the Christian Question

Bruno Bosteels

n t oltca ' l omans, i m ray.

- Martn H gg r,

znJ

Rom conq r

Crstian by b comng Crs nom Ts

t n

Crstan c nri s w r n c ssa to giv t anc nt an

na Roman a a tnc wit wic to cov r ts sam ars

an a consci nc for its bas mom nts An now tat i a is r ,

r ct an qi wit all t forc s o sol o i stroy

it Is it r cis ly its rins tat man as conq r wit tosan

o ors

- lias Can tti, h Hmn rnc

I

wol li to r ac r mars tat fol lo by invoing t m mory

o

two ror m tngs at t Coo r Unon n N Yor City C rtanly

bot of t s m tngs w r miss oortnt i s, or ail ncon

t rs

: roms s o tings tat co av b n bt n v r w r Y t t y

also loq ntly s a to t gacy o a strong socast an commnst

traition at all too oft n t ns to b forgot n in tis conry to

asting f cts o an commns roagana rng an af r t

Col ar

T rst m tng I wan to brng to b ar

O

ts iscsson is t

Social ist Scolars Con r nc tat too lac at t Coo r Union on 1-2

Arl 19 In a r c nt boo tt RcLn-Ch Bck bm n h

UnL f Amrcn cLJ,

ts m ting s scrib as a transfor

matonal mom nt or Obama mom nt w n al g y rm

is cision o bring socialism to t Unit Sat s Tis s wy t ator

o boo ls t n to warn is r a rs: Ov r long t rm

Obamas lans ar sign to nsnar contry in a n w socaism,

st a socialism ta masq ra s as a trational Am rcan s ns o fair

ay, a so bt rncos socalsm simlar to tat crr nty [in 2 1] s



38 B B SS

sragg coom s of rop '. I fac accordg o sam

aor k ood of sc pas b comg a r a s mc gr a r

a av ad form d r ad r mg k:

T d a a Am rca mg adv r y ad cr m aly fa o

socasm s a gr a d a clos r o sra g s of acal xsg

soca ss a xbook d os of coom s aoalz d a a

sg r voloary bow T r aso Am rcas do d rsad

s s a v rs of possx s socasm as r ma d arg y

dd from pb c v w. Y s s Obamas word. I s m w go

o kow .

Now I k w ca a agr a s s o or o og r word of

Pr sd Obama f v r was xc p y s of T a Par rs B

s o ss r a w wordwd crss of capasm ro

caly proms of som r r of r socal sm or ra r a w

b gg for commsm s dscss d as b g clos r a v a y ar

or wo ago.

T Socas Scoars Cof r c of 1 9 was also a comm morav

v c brag c a of famos m g d Gr a

Ha of Coop r Uo o 19 Marc 1 oor of Karl Marx

wo ad d d v days arl r. Ts m g was a d d - or a as so

s crocl gv s s r aso o b l v by Cba wr r Jos Mar

wo a m r sd d N w York C ad work d as a for g corr

spod for Arg wspap r

Ncin.

Mars crocl abo

m g a Coop r Uo as b ackowl dg d as b g a rs

par r c po of Marxsm src posopca s s La

A rca. Ad y s oo som s s was a mss d oppor

sc Mars croc v r c as s o r spod adv rs ly o gr a

abor of Marx as a ma pocal orgaz r.

Up o af a doz m s Mar r p as r proac a Marx ad s

foow rs fom rs I raoa sog o accomps r ob

ds

w wrog or msgd d m as. Kar Marx sd d m as of

sabsg wod o w bas s awok s p rs ad sow d

Stn y Kutz, Rdt·a-Cbe/ k Ob m d te Uto SofAmr So m ( w Yok:

h shod Edtons, 2 ),

p

2 bid, 6

3

R Fon tBno, Tr .orm o

m r\mo tor mr en Anu · L t

(M xco

Cty: z y ds/Un sdd Autnom u o L n, 2 ),

p.

28.



N HRSTN QUSTI N

39

t m ow to st dow t rk d prs wrt s Mrt Bt w t

v fst d som tm s i drk ss dd ot s tt wtot tr

d borios g stto, idr r ot bor vb from to

isto or from wom t om .

For Mrt, tis mistk s to do wit t dff r s b w t Od

d

t

N w ords Aordig to im, Mrxs G rm Fr or

Rssi fo ow rs i t Uit d Stt s brg t gosp of ss tr d

d vo t wrfr to otry tt s og r pbi id s to b

b to do witot s vio nt sotos

T ftr mst b oq r d wit ds T workm of t

Uit d Stt s wod b mor prd t if t most ggr v d d

r

g d workm of rop w r ot mpig t dr gs of t ir

tr d ito t ir rs G rms, Fr m , d Rssis gid t s

disssios T A ris t d to r sov t or t mtt r t d

t r m tgs, wi tos from brod ris it to bstrt p .

Good s s d t ft of vig b bor ito fr rd mk

t m of ts p sow to wrt T rg of tos from brod is

roig d xposv b s t ir proog d sv m t s

r pr ss d d o trt d t. Bt t rott pp mst ot b ow d

to spoi t wo ty brr - tog it od ! T xr s s

of

mory, w rot d gw t ib rs bosom ik poiso,

ot mt Lib rs pow r 5

It wod tk Mrt s v r mor y rs, ti ft r t x tio of

t Hymrk t rsts to tr rod ts v rdt I Nov mb r

17 ts is b to omp t y r vis s ri r dstitio b tw

t tts d strt gi s to b s d Erop d t N w ord

Ts r pb, i its x ssiv worsip of w t, s f witot

y of t r strits of trdtio, to t q, sti d

vio of t mori s', Mrt ow obs rv bot is ost otry

Ad t r i is ro bot t Cgo rists, s v mor

dirt Am ri, t , is t sm s rop ! so tt t s of

vio s vtb st r sort my ow s m sti d: O t

os M 'ib s o K M, Wo s i d, n Selete tJ d nd ns Es

All n

( w Yo ngn, 22) . 3 . Fo mo d l d ding, s Chp r of Bro

Bos ls,

\

eu t Ame Po/t Rel Pyoly

o (ondon

V so, 22)

5 M, 'Tb s o Krl M, 3



0

B SLS

dis s is r cogiz d t g ros st go s for i s rc of

r m dy; oc p c fl m sr s v b st d t g ros

srt o wc i of o rs works ik worm o

wod rs o r m dy of vio c .

T s m igs from d 1 9 so rov som tg d cd s

of ticommis d tircst rogd v ry oblit rt d

- m y t prod it rtiolis rdto t sds b id t

commis d v i t Ut d St s. Ts s trditio of i r

iolism t I wod ik o d by yig omg to work of t

Arg ti pioso r Rozitc r wo ss d wy o S pt mb r

2 1 1 r sp dig t lst mos of is if workg o piskg

r r dg of Mrs O t wis Q stio. For Rozitc r tis

q so of r lgio is o a s codry iss comr d o sy t rg cy

of t coomc criss or t groig ffors to iv w ol c forms

o pr of t ft. To t cotrry t r r s v r r sos for r tr

ig to criiq of r ligios id olo i t r s t. Not oly is

crr wr o rror gimiz d rms of civiliztiol cls mog

tr socl d r igios of t book' Bt m ros fiss so v

r cors o r gio i r ffors o rrog t lmis of o icl

sov r ig or to d forms of mlitcy of w p W ss

plc of m ssiic sctoogic or ocyticl mod s of tog i

tikig of tors sc s cob Tb s or cq s D rrid s w l

s bqios ivocio of sy gr s from Si Agsi for

Fros yotrd to Si P for A Bdo d Svoj

Z

i k

to Sit Frcs for To N gr d Mic Hrd s is co t

tt w o r vsit wt Rozitc r c s t Cristi q so sr

g wi crtc r ctio o Mrs O wis Q stio

Uim y t is is q so bo kd of sbj c mg b c d

comms ody d w r or o w t r igos

mr is

lf i grspig ow commsm c b com sb civiz d

T t Crist i mtri of sb civi rv l d by Mr co

s o ply ivotl rol i or crr t politicl sttio - cris s d

r vots icd d c b gg d from t foowig r sos to t

rot ss by s criss i Spi gs t ofcl vs of ( sl) Po

6 os Mt, Css W n Cgo A b m S IV·itn.q<, pp. 99200.

7 L n Roztcn u stn ud, n n nsd, K x Buno u nd Romn

Rosdosk,

IM•er

a a

cln }dfa' ,

Est Vk ( on: G ds 20 ),

pp

93-253

Un ss oths nd ct d tnstons my on Fo mo d t d dscusson of Rotcn s

ok s Chp s d 5 of my r� n d Frud n LAm(·a.



N H HRISIN QUSI N

4 1

B dct XVI to t orada Mda d a v td ord Yot

ay) y 20 T sp ak r s Esp raza Agrr pr sd of

Comm of Madrd from t rgtwg Partdo Popar wo a

m ad ar ady b facg s v ra w ks of pro ss from soca d

nnJ

t P ra d So Madrd

T s g t m wo marc prot st sod kow at t va s

tat

Crsa as brog o st ad to word

qa of ma b gs dg of p rsos b r p sacr

c , t coc r for ot rs - ar a postv A s as b brogt

abo

by Crsta Do ' b v w y say ta Marx as

brogt s.

Exc pt for t postv vaato of sad va s Marx of cors wod

av agr d w v ry word of ts ass ssm t. Bt to d rsad s

r qr s at w focs o Marx's tr am of t Crsa rat r ta

oy

t ws q so

O ws Q so' Marxs t xt from pbs d t foow

g

y ar Dn hrc at co d d w

od Rg s o of tos xs a w may av d rstood a oo

w

. No oy as ts xt b br d d r a mota of accsatos

agas s ator ragg from carg s of ws s far d o otrg

atS mtsm bt v ators sc as Da B sad wo ar ot r

ws wo y sympa c to Marxs argm ts oft s o d o go

b yod t p a for a comp t s carzato of a t oogca argm ts

ov r

ad agas t crr r gos r amog radca tk rs of t

ft ad rg ak .

Marx ms f admt dly may s m o b argg aog t s s

Id d do s too ot propos o brg av dow to art o pt

sprta back o ts mat ra bas ad to r dc t t to t srcy

As wrt s do o t s car q

�

sos to t oogca

q sos. tr t oogca q stos o s car o s. Hsto as

og og b m rg d sp rsto w ow m rg sp rso

sto.8 How v r m r y o arg for t s carzato of t oo

ss s t wo pot of O t ws Q so' ors t cofs s

Marxs argm t wt at of ts prcpa t roctor Bro Ba r

orga t x ca d T ws Q so'

D

a t ta

8

Mx 'On t ws Qusto, n K Mx nd Fd Engs,

ollt Work

(w

k: nton Pbss 95), o 3,

5 .



4

BRN B

inid nally w ough p haps o onsd anslang as Th J wsh

D mand o Th D mand of h J ws

I is Bau no Ma who asons ha J ws in G many anno

manipa d so long as h y do no manipa h ms lv s fom ing

J wish Bau h fo d mands o quo Ms paaphas on h

on hand ha h J w should noun Judaism and ha manknd in

g n al should noun ligion in od o ahi v

ci

manipaion

On h oh hand h qui onsis nly gads h

poLiaL

aoliion of

ligion as h aoliion of lgion as suh a s sil paaphasing

Bau wh n h a wi s Th

poliaL

manipaon of h J w h

Chisian and in g n al of

l

man is h

ancipan of

h sa

fom Judaism fom Chisiani fom

ln

n g n al

Cl aly v n

fo h fuu auho of D KapiaL who will d ligh in signalling all h

h ooga ni i s involv d n ommod f ishism h agum n fo

h polial manpaion fom l igion anno suf In fa h aoli

ion of ligion isks l aving ina h ligious - and mo pop ly

Chisian

- o of h dominan fom of mod poliis ha is o say i

fals o ouh upon h Chisan o of h mod n sa as popound d

v n y Bau and oh Young H g lans suh as Rug Mas fi nd

and o dio wih whom h wil l pomply ak oh p sonally and

id ologially

n his n nd d in p aon of On h J wish Qu sion

wi n on h oason of h Spanish anslaion of B nsads p s na

ion of Mas Roihn daws a nion o ou onin

uing naii

o om o ms wih h ompl ii s of his lind d as mos

on mpoa ad s undou dly on inu o y Mas onsan

us of ioni no o say saas anguag ha s ms al h mo disu

ing

in h wak of h Holoaus Fo Roin h pon is no o

s ulai ligion and spiiuali in h nam of ma ialism u ah

o av l down h oad g n alogially o h ligious ali naion ha li s

a h oo of poliia and onomal ai naion

Why s would Ma s h n d o pik up h qu son of ligion

again if al ady in h soall d K unah manusip fom h gin

ning of 1 in a summa s ling of aouns wh his own H g lianism

h had wi n ha h iiism of ligion s in h man omp ?

Why ls would h un o lgosi wh n i n his sam pivoal y a h

9

bi. p. 49 A mps s in oign, un ss o s int .

0 bi. p.

M, 'Contibuton o t Ciiu of g s iosoy of w,

Cmp

o 3, . 75.



N H HRISIN QUSI N

43

is dy moving wy fom umnist t m s lik f dom of

ss in fvou of iiqu of oiti onomy nd o ois of

isoil mt ilism, su s o mis un s d y t qu stion of

t of wood?

2

It soud no om s suis at Mx is s ily s nsiiv o t

ll fo igious s fsi tat Bu oos s o J ws s t

souion to i d mnd fo oliil mnition in G mny. Tis l

mus av awk n d inful son m moi s in t young Mx

Uon t omm ndion of is f H ini, K l d n

ist n d at t g of six. As J w un d ino soilly ta

Cisin, Mx us dy d tv ll d lf oad towds oml

oitil mniation oos d y Bu . In Mx ims lf, tis x i

n s ms to v f d syi ss

In long t to is ft wit n w n ws nin n y s old

sotly

f iving t t niv si of B lin, young Kl woud usi

is oi y xlaining wy ad ndon d t study of aw in

fvou of i osoy, s id list nd t n m iist Fom id lism

wi, y t wy I d om d nd nouis d wi t id l ism of

Knt nd Fi , I aiv d t t oint of s king id in li its lf.

If viously t gods ad dw aov t now t y m its

nt , s Mx us i. [L]ik vigoous av ll I s t ou sk

is lf, iosoidil ti oun of divini, s it mnif sts its lf

s

t id ain is lf, s ligio s ntu nd as isto And y v n

oug su a n mt ilis wokingoug of ligion s ntu

nd s iso is loving son n v s ms o v fuly d fom

um of is foml onv sion to Cisini d id d uon y is

f . H tus wit s in sm l fom Nov m 7 to H ini

Mx: A uin d fll n my oly of o i s ws n sund , nd n w

gods d to inst d

W n Max tuns to ltion of olitind ligion in On

J wis Qu stion, is us s king tly fom t ainful m moy

ta s l f in im y is fo d ist ning Wa i s x i n llows

Mx to s , s in a sadly ivi g d wy, is t x n o wi

is a Cistian foundion tt liv s on, idd n v y of

suos dly s ula mod n stat Tis is aus t logi of

1 2 See ie Besd, Dpo Krl leJ o! b t l rot p

'

J

(s:

Fiue 200.

Mx, ete fom Mx o s Fh e n Te, ol rk ol ,

.

8

d





H HRISI QUS

45

p

cmn

of lgon fom h sa no vl so , hs s no a sag

n olal manaon u s

cmpln

hs manaon h fo

n h aolsh s h

L

lgousn ss of man, no sv s o do so h

Chsan sa , whh sll l av s Chsan n xs n as an xl

d, as n h as of ussa a h m of Max, has no y fully

f d h ansusanaon of lgon no ols. aadoxal ly,

hs l v l of f on s ah v d only n h soall d s ula d moa

sa , whh Max assoa s wh h n d Sa s of Am a

In h f d moay, h lgous and h ologal onsousn ss

s lf s n s own y s h mo lgous and h mo h ologal

aus s aa nly whou olal sgnan , whou woldly

ams, an affa of h h a whdawn fom h

wold, h x sson

of h lmaons of ason h odu of aan ss ad fanasy,

and aus s a lf ha s ally of h oh

wold Chsan

aans h h pcL x sson of s unv sal lgous sgn

an n ha h mos dv s wold oulooks a gou d og h

alongsd on anoh n h fom of Chsan, and sll mo aus

do s no ask ha anyon should of ss Chsan, u smly ha

h should hav som knd of lgon 8

Wha Max oos s o do n On h J wsh Qu son , h n, s a

l as h o ally o a som of h s s ha l d u o h aadox

al aomlshm n of h Chsan s n h mod s ula sa

Th

olal m ln ss of hs oosal fo h s n mom n should

ovous nough fo v yon o s , ovd d ha w a no s du d y

h s ulaaon h ss no sl d y h ausaons of anS msm.

Bu

h o ally, oo, h a moan l ssons o l an d fom

Maxs youhful x To do so would qu no us d v long a ma

als h o of h g n ss of su v ou of ssan , of s ou of

nau , o of fom ou of ma , u also d lvng d no h g n al

o of dff n foms o s of su v In ms of ols, hs

has m ans movng away om hlosohy, wh s nh n o n

s fo always askng h ans nd nal qu son, owads a dal al

auaon of hso and h oy. In addon o d v long a Maxs

h oy of h su , a on moay adng of On h J wsh Qu son

hus qu s ha w also onsu a hso of mod n aals as

17 Max, On the ewsh ueston

155

18

Ibd.,

59 (taslaton oded



46

BRN B SS

w as p apals foms of su v, aog h l s of wha

Roh hms lf do s n

CoJ

C

(Th Thng ad h Coss' ,

a ook whh off s a os xua adng of San Augusn s

CoJn

as h qun ss na maua of su o of h ndvdua o oh h

Chsa lgon and h pow of ommad of h Roma Emp .

I osp , hs s an ag da fo h o a wok ha, followng

Roh , w may al ady nd n Max's x fom h

Dch

Fnich hrbchr

p haps aus Max d v s h ask of hsoal

g alo fom hs own auoogaphal a o. Rohn s quk

o add ha Max hms lf, v n a n hs mau wok, dd o ng o

fuon h ag nda of suh a omn d hsoy ad h o of poal

su v:

I s u , Max do s no analy n d al h hsoal odons, h

soa aoshps' ha fom hsoal gous Judasm ad a

d mna on x podu d h m amophoss op a d h

a n popula paga magna y h n w Chsan myh so d a o

Cosan , wh whom lgo a s ogn app as as a n w hol

o of domaon n h poduon of su s appopa fo h

suss n of h Roman mp . Bu o mpoay Maxss wll o

a o go hs, as a d du d fom h aalyss wh h y

p d o asfom h osousn ss of al a d polal su s

y modng only h oom aons of poduon, whou

pung no pay h myha d maons of Chsan

Today, h a hos , k my f d Slavo

Z

k who man o

d f d Chsa as a gay s woh ghg fo, o a os aus

woh d f ndng. Fo h m, suh nd avous qu a ma as v sal

wh y wha oh ws app as o ask h lgh of dogma uh a

of a sudd n shn s foh as a fag asolu , summ d up Chss

xlamaon o h Coss: Oh Fah , why has Thou fosak n m ? '

Wha hs y symol s s p s ly ha whh sss symolaon

asou ly - ha s, h fa ha h od of h uv s s nh ly

nompl , dysfunonal, noal In sho, wh hs Fah , has hou

fosak m ? ", s God who aually d s, v alng Hs u mpo n ,

ad h upo s s fom h d ad n h gus of h Hoy Sp . Fa

19 Rihn r a cu n jd a,

20

20 Slaj

Z

i k

Fr They Kn t at ey D Enyment a a Pltal Fatr

cnd d N w

rk: V 2002)

iii



N RI SAN QUESI N

47

fom simply aying a mom na lak of faih, J suss highighs

h pop y voluonay nau of Chis iani in h y s of Zi k,

ho is a si foow in hs gad of Ch s on h n h wo in hs

x Chisiani is h only ligion on ah ha has f ha

omnipo n mad God inompl Chisian alon has f l ha God,

o

whoy God, mus hav n a as w ll as a king

No

ma how muh w may sp h m up wih amp s fom

H g l o

Holyood, hough, all suh dial ial fomulaions and

v sals of Chisiani inluding

Z

i ks old fomulaions of h

passag fom Judasm o Chsani in h nam of a n on ma

iaism main, sly sp aking, a h v l of a suual o

ans nd nal disussion of h ondiions of possil of su ivi

as suh . A a im wh n as oninu o ag d, and p opl oninu

o mud d, in h nam of h soal d viliaional valu s mod

d n h Chsian faih, h s agum ns fail o ak aoun of suh

pof

ound ompii s as h on ha, aodng o Ma, links h

aional d moai fom of h sa o h ss n of Chisiani. No

do s i suf m ly o aandon h voaulay of h lgious un, if

a

h sam im h v y gious - and mo pop ly Chsian

founda ions of h mod h oy of h su a no ony f

unouh d, u no v n pli i ly adm d anymo .

Fo al my d p afn and p sonal aff ion fo h houghs

p s n d y hnk s suh as

Z

k and Con l W s, I i v ha

poposals fo a voluona o poph i Chisiani o ak ih h

ul

of apial amoun o a mps o gh ih Wha ould

n d d o ak his il is a long m g n alo of h h iso and

poliis of apalis su ivi, as ll as of h difu of fomulaing

a ommuns al nav ha would no man app d in mo of h

sam W h fo mus ah ak fom poliia o gous ali naon

in od o und sand h p sis n of h ligious wihin h poliial ,

as Rohn also wi s in his omm nay

ou On h J wish

Qu son W mus sho ha h Chsian ss n , whih ial i

sm lams o hav ov om , mans and is o d in h ma ial

soal laions of h d moai s ua Sa hos mnal fom, as

21

Gilrt Kih Chstrtn, Orth\ w rk: hn an, 1908,

25 S

Z

, A

Mdst Pla fr th Hglian Rading f Chrisianiy, in Slaj

Z

k and hn Milank, The

nr 4 hrit Pad

r Dalt?, d Crsn ais (Camidg, A: MIT Prss, 2009

.

8 r a disussn, s Brun Bstls, '

Z

k and Christianiy, r, h Critqu f Rligin aftr

Mar ad rd, n ail hadr and Mlly Ann Rthnrg, ds,

Z

ek

'

urret Pp

'

Z

k Std

Ldn Pl, 20 1



8 • m B STLS

Mar d monstat s s h Unt d Sa s of Am ra And to sho, us

add, ho t rssts to ths v ry day r s y suh a g n aoga as

s ak n u n Rothn 's fomda oo

hn n C

C n n Cp Abo n A n

Conf ssons3

A good vantag on from h to aroah hs oo oud

as d on a omarson t n th s tv r adngs of Augustn s

Co�n

found n Lyotad and Rohn r: th rst off rng a oshu

mous and unnsh d amost hagograh sam n; and th s ond, a

anfuy d ns , fr qu nty r ttv , and oasonay vous atak.

For Lyoad San Augustn s

COn

s m o rovd h oason

for an r n of n arsum oy Th a to f and o tak

asu un num d, ras d to an unnon o r hs s santy oy.

Rar y dd gra ta a ss da a u ss n gatvst and ss r r s

sv n Augustn , sh so d h gra u s ts d sr , n

nno n 4 D st shang an n r st n h aon t n ga

and th sh, Rothn r oud hav had to r t ths nt rr taton

amos od for ord B yond h a aran of sh nno n and

s nsuous oy, nothng oud n fat mor r ssv or mo n gatv

than h da t t n d ath and savaton, o n gra and

t rror hh Rothn r unov rs n th

CO�

Rath r than s rvng as a sustut ov t r, n hh th dvn

Thou' om s to sand n ffot ssy fo th ov d as s h as fo

Lyotard Augustn 's t t n Rothn r's hands thus om s th targ t

of an nurson nto host roy h r a d nng Ro

man Em

mang a ommon font th th Chrstan huh n a ordhstora

untur st d t d n Augusn 's on sus qu n aoaon n

C

of Go

gv s rs o a snst r su t fomaton that r ar s h onsaught

of atasm s v ra hundr d y ars at r San Augustn th n, s not a

mod ; h s th n my, th on ho s v s as an anmo . In hs

Roihn a u tn jud a p 1 99

3 n Roithn L y nm y p n En ! Con ion e n

Agn) u no A : oada 199)

anano yotad

n un, tan Rihad B adwoth Saod

Sanod Un ty P 000), p anation modi d Compa with h on o ad and

N g at pag in Emp Camidg MA: Haa Uni it P 000):

h i an ani n t g nd tha migh to i u mna th uu i o ommuni t mi iany:

that o Sain an o Aii On again in otmod i w nd ou in ai

tuat ion pong againt th mi y o pow h oy o ing Thi i a ouion hat no pow

i onto - au ioow and ommn im oop ao and oution ma og

in o impiity and ao inno n hi th i p i ighn and joy o ing

ommunit p 1



N H CRISTIN QUSTI N

9

t oogial lida oomy t sait popos d o us, fom t old st

tim s t most poduiv oigiay iv sm t to aumulat sa d

apial , Roih wi s fo summg up th od hypot sis

d

is adg of t

CJJ£nJ

h Chstia Spit ad Capital

av ompl m ay m aphysa p mis s Folowig tis ypoth ss

w sowy d lv o h vs al d pts of th su t so as o loa th

pa wh t o ad th f a of d a fom th ai s x i s of

t

id owad om ga d to th ma a sou I fat wh

out ths isptio - fo whih w a d t us s maua o pag

aft pag of Augusti s

CJZJ

-

Roith laims that apitalism

woud

ot hav possil . Fially, th th o tal o of this agu

m t is wofold omig as t do s a tooug v sigatio io t

oots of ow ad su io o, o th o ad wih a wilfu

va of o v pot tia fo l lo ad su viatio o

ot .

st h o ta sad al lows us idsigh to post tha t o

ad ga a atually w d v opm ts , wih h iiqu of su

io fo aot a as s paat o mutually xlusiv ph om a

Fo Roith , o d iv s fom th axi of d ath ista ll d i th

i most o of h su t du to t guilt f l t ov lig o watig

to l th pimoda fath Ga ow v is m ly a fals solutio,

o a d f fomato wi t og of pow ad its xt sio

ito

t su ts lf a ov d up o, p s y, poms d a magi

ay souto

I is ot us tat o ad ga a said to o spod o two foms

of fudam asm o suppos dy Isam ad th o Chstia,

om tg o th sag of wold stoy today I fat, Roit s

iv stigatos io t pla of t o ay th oy of su tio, as w

as is it s h Chist ia mod l of ga p d y may y as

t v ts of th Am ia 9/ ad h sug wa o t o But it s

also ot ust a mat , as i s ms to fo Badou

d

Z

of sta

lsig t oigial li tw (good t o ad voluio, fom t

Jaos to H g . Ra , t u val ps mologal ivi g of

Roith s vi wpot s ms fom th sgh hat h gim of t o

that s h miliay diatosp Ag ta xt ds its g w

yod h soal l d o ss of Natioal R ogaatio h vi w

fom th South tus op s up a ompl t ly diff t p sp tv o th

25

Rz h y .

12



BRN B STLS

wa on t o that was to un ash d wth patua vol n n Mah

200 dung th Shok and Aw op aton n aq. In fat th oth ,

Ch an 91 - that s, noh ts 97 mtay oup and th sp taua

omng of th p sd ntal pala of La Mon da n th naton s apta

n ths s ns woud nstutv fo th o of v nts suoundng

9/1 1 n th nt d Sat s.

W must om to thnk though th snst da ta lnk tw n

ga and t o, wthout pang th fom as th gft of p a o d mo

a

y o vaton that would om

af r,

and

in rpn ,

v wa o

dtatoshp o aasm To und stand th paaton w must st

stat fom th t o that gounds t, Rothn wt s. Wa and th

dtatoshp a t o ut d moay s a ga that th pow of t o

on d s to us as a tu . Both, d moay and dtatoshp, a two

modalt s of pots, and th y onsttut th alt natng doman n whh

soa ontadtons a fought out. Suh would th sad sson to

an d om th p n of th mtay dtatoshps, whh w now

know amount d to th vol nt mposton of th gn of n o asm.

Th tanston to d moay, how v , dd not mak a ak wth th

und lyng log of t o. To th ontay, th d moat po ss ontn

u s to gound d n ths v og, ony now t s hdd n o dsavow d

Th dtatoshp fom whh w om , th n, s not an

accn

no an

armaL fat n ou polta d v opm nt mltay t o on th onta,

s pat of th sam syst m tog th wth th mpt lmts o d moay

ts lf. t onsttut s ts foundng and p sst nt vo n . Muh l ss

ovous s th answ to th qu ston of what s to don on th found

ng vol n hnd th u nt poltal od s pos d.

Th dfu n qu ston st ms om th pay of dssmuaton though

whh d moay app as as th ptom of and p a , ony

t mpoay nt upt d y th anoma of v wa and dtatoshp.

nsofa as ths gam of hd ands k s not ad nta ut onsttutv of

th d moat od , th st st p n ssaly qu s an fot of undo

ng th log of dssmulaton. As Rothn wt s T o p ss s th

p sona pa that f ds th mpuls s fo sstan th ol tv dv s

B aus of ths t s n ssa to undo ths su tv tap to k p p s nt,

n od to onu t, th mota th at that w m g agan wh n sst

an app as.8

Rzichn r Etrr y l gr c , d Rn H Rs Bu s Air s Nra 003

pp

-7

7 Iid

p

1

8 d

p



N T RSTN QUS N

5 1

on go s so far as o sugg s a apasm mpos s a ffus

So

k an

Aw op aon on ah an v sb n v

s no l ss an n r s of h worl as wn ss y way o a ark

p ursor un r mlary r gm s n h Sou rn Con :

rror n n polal so u aways r a nng oro s

uman su v om wn. hs unonsous f ar a runs

roug

so rror of a n r lgon wh nlv ns n

a of r llon h rror of un mploym n of bankrupy or of

pov r n onomy or o arm for s o r p sson

h rror of h ov rngup of os orms of knowl g ha mgh b

ab o unrav l hs omnaon s h groun on bass of whh

h

sys m n ga s wn a on h v hng a anma s

H r how v w also a ay b gn o grasp h oh r b llous

sran

n ohn s ov rarhng h o a proposal n f hs am

s n v r m r ly o unov r h orgnary vol n of h poal p r

s

bu ah r o r r v h po nal for r b llon

an r ssan wh

w hs vol n aways has a o om o rms n h rs pla

from m mm mora unl oay

hs ognary llon for nsan of h h l agans fa r s

p s y mom n a on r s ks o rng o h for groun n

hs

pvoal r r ang of h myh of h kllng of prmoral fah r n

Fr

us soall oll v wrngs parularly

T n T

an

iL in n Dn

Unl wha app ns n ran xs y

Agam n or v n

Z

k h klng o prmoral fa r upon hs r a

ng s no m an o prou a aa m aphyss o h sa o x pon

o of h a v . B yon h unmaskng of orgna vo n am

s abov a o pu for no ol l v su . n oh r wors f h r

s a onsan for o r a ak an v no h roos of sub on

ppos o s urn s o na a oll v form of manpaory su

vaon. h r a ask n onsss rs an for mos n h ongong

fo o r ava a possb r un o hs orgo n orgn of sub v

n r lon hs s an ffor a

' cin

or aaaon ha s an

ffor o r sor h or of hsoral possbl y r anmang h v n

sruur of po ss o su vaon wos arha p rss n

o s no pr u h opon of r ahng ou or s ff v sup rs sson

29 Iid,

pp.

289



52

BRUN B SLS

Suh a ot otu s v Rothn s ook o Augustn pulsh

wh th autho ha al ay ah th matu ag o s v nth in a

astoshg at that omi s a panstakg an sustan los aig

with a s s o wl th o tal sp ulatios aout a sat who may atually

hav th st mo n su t.

Now why woul an uous J w wat to wt Roth hms

asks om th gng aout th

ConfJJ

o a Chstia sat? A I

mght s on ths y askng Why wou ommunsm toay n th mst

o wolwi is s a upsngs al to tak o a w gg y

a ssng th Chsta u st o? Amog th vaous asw s th most

auaous o taily outag Max W s hypoth ss aout th

ologial a tw aptasm a ot stantsm - hols that

apitalsm smply woul ot hav poss wthout Chstan

Tiumphat apitalsm th quatitatv a

�i

aumulato o

w ath th astat mo tay om wou ot hav possl with

out th huma mo l o gous ii pomot y Chstian

without th magiay a symolia ogaato op at su

tiv y th n w ligo o th Roman Empi . 3 August s th

p m nt mo l o th s poou tasomatons i th psyhi

oomy a his

C�JJZJ

a us s maual o su ton an s v

tu . Th ompl t valoato o th sh o p asu a o th

soal i g n al tog th wth th n wly osttut su ts sumssio

to th ul o law a imp ial o ostitut s th lastig lgous

p ms s o th polital sph .

Roith s po t how v o s ot amout to a ostutio o

th possil tanspositos an syst mati anaog s tw th potal

a th th ologal lik Cal Shmitt h o s ot popos a potia

th olo H aso o s ot ous o Ci of o, as a stu t o potia

th olo mght ot v o to v t ts h ahy avou o th

athly i as Hat a N gi popos to o

Empi

Rath h

hoos s to o tat o th p soal tn a i th

ConJJnJ

that

aoig to him lays th su tiv ouation o Ci o as

August s ga pototh ologia syth ss wtt y as lat

Fally th man isous o n o Roth is not ua ut

psyhoanalyta F u ig a mo us ul n tha Shmitt o

u staig th su tv stak s o po tis

Rothn s wok th s ks to uov th mat ial oy a

0

Rzthn a

Ja y I

9.



N RISN QSI N 53

t

v

pas o h su t that had to sudu d h am o h

tas d t go o a pu ly mma t aso - u oly a h

o

o

auho, o h law ad o m had a ady a to

os

ts l

th s v y sam ss s tha w sus qu y to hav

d d

:

August t ss m oy o h appaatus o domao ad wa

h whh h ostut d huma su v ud h sg o law

ad tuth Ths s wha otu s to l vat today Augus w

ho to d th t mat pla wh pow lv s ad t s th

motos ad s up th most s st atas s od to put th

ody ato ad, a hs hou wh h od wod ollaps s,

o

yok

t to th wa haos o pola ad ooma pow 3

Tag h ah o ths v stgao, w oa o oy a d tal d

ptu o how h su t, po to omg th sh ad odd o ap

tas aumulato, st had o om h su t o law olowg th

W s Roma m s oas aoud h m o th sak o Rom

1 0 AD, whh mak th mm dat pot o Sat

August

Ci f

ut aso a dag s s o ompasos tw

Chsa ad Judasm as w as a ow ul sugg so o sup

m t F uds ow dot o O dpal gult ad th sup go aw

(ludg ts og h llg o h pmoda ath , whh a s ts

u s

may om th J wsh God wth a t p ao o th h oy o

th su t d v d om Chsta H s how Roth tosp

v ly d s s h ha g a d y hs adg o th

CJJnJ

I tak ths huma mod , osd d to th most sulm , ad

show tha h , h xatato o th mos sa d, th ommt

m t to what s most ss also nds a h , w w o aso,

dog so, hav uov d th os m hasm o th Chsta

po ss

o lgous poduto? Ths s th ha g : to ud sad a

mo l o g huma tha has podu d sxt tu s o sutl

ad d, ual ad m ss su to3

Compa d wth h u ush to v h gu o satl ss as

a

utu mod l o poltal mlay, Roth s ook o August has

1 .

.

1

10



5

BRUN B SLS

h omous vu of xposg h x o whh h oo of poa

su v ou s o oama d y Chsa h olo

Ths s why w w s d dg h goud of h polal

wha s mos sp ay lgous Ad w ask d ous lv s f s poss

ha ah v wh h o of h Chsa maga ad

d sp h s of os ad v f h o sh sus s o h

Th oo of L ao a hav a poa xp ha s

n

iy

dff fom h pols s ghg agas W ask f h

fudam al goud of Chsa lgo s o

nJJriy

h fuda

m of domao p s ly wha s lgous 33

Th xamp s of Badou N g ad

Z

k v al h al dful

h s asw g h d mad fo a pola x udg o

a su v l v ha would

JJn iy

dff fom h o

omas A of h s hk s fa ma d ply ag d h

pola h olo of Chsa - ua o usa h mla ommu

s su x p hough h gu of h sa

Wha h s h ask of h o o phlosophy h fa of hs p ss

of h Chsa max of o ad ga ? How a w ol

h pusu of phlosophy wh woud o dful o show ha a

h foudao of v y mas d uh h s h a sh of a

p ss d ody o d h am of h sp?

Wh h wod's m ay pow s as o d h k l of o ad

h ax of d ah ha ud l s v y pp of auho h ask of

h oy o phosophy a oly oss s kg ou ad udog h

spa s wh hough wh hs k l ds a way o s sf: A

m s wh h oados ad ss d p as ous ow amog

us w mus ask ous lv s aou h ss of o ad hus aou

h ss of phlosophy ha o y oposg s asw s ks o

u sho O aga: s wa ha ss s f wh uh ad who v

poou s uh s hs o h ow way a omaa '34 Roh

a aAdoa sl w us h pow s of o o udo h s

ha ppl d all o o pow ad o To hk h

odos of uh phosophy m as o ah ou wh h hkg

huma gs fo h foudao wh h o of o ak s fug s

Ibid

4

Roihn 'ilooa

t rror,

Fry / pbma d pd

Bu no Air : Loada 00

45



N TH RISIN QUST N

55

thn th m as th r ow lmt 3 To thnk aganst ths lmt m ans aan

ong n th th su t or th o pt ut rath tunng th pow r

o th su t agast th omnaton of onsttut su tv, as w ll as

op

n

g up th

on pt to that whh aot ut r man unon ptual

Suh woul th poss ol o th o or phlosophy th fa

o t rror - v n, or sp aly h n ths t ror s ks r ug thn th

h ats

o omatats who ar all upon to ght aganst t n th nam

o om an gra as Chrstas lastng gts to th W st.

5 Id,

50





4

A Comm onst Ethcs

Susan Buck Morss

h s po: pos s no onoo h m h h pol s

wys onolog ds o b h ng d. I s no m ly h h g

v s h s - h h po s v onoog (s Bdou pos

ou smpl n go v s v yhng n p 3 s d wh s l d

o s v s o h gon : h ooog s v poll

I ollows h h mov om

poi iq

( v ydy pos o

poi

iq

(h v y m nng o h poll s o wy s h l du

sp o l Guh , Chl ou , Gogo Agmb n nd

who sl w o oh s h mp o dsov whn mpl pol l

( poi )

h ooog ss n o h po

( poi iq)

l ds

h oy o d d d om whh h s no u o u poll

p . h s ohg g d by hs mov om h mn o h

msuln om h posm physl po o dsov ng ooog

uh

whn lv d xs n s pol y I s n h soly ds

gg d Huss n-H d gg mod o bk ng h

xiJ ni

o

dsov h ss n u o wh h poll s . And s n h

solly posFouuldn mod o hso d onoo dslos

ng h mupl wys o pol b ngnh wod whn pul

uul nd mpo oguons

Brn Bstls cits Muf in h Ontgical Tu in his nfratv nw k

ult}mmum

ndnNw rk: Vrs 0 1 1 0- 1 uf: [l t is th lack f undr

standing f th tica in is ntlgica dinsin whch is a th rigin f ur currnt incaacity

t thin< n a litca wa Chanal Mff

O thePltl

[Nw rk: Rutdg 005] 8 ) As

Ngri: r is whr cunis is in d ar t instal it slf in th cn i n ntl and

vic vrsa withut hisrica n hr is n cun s Antni Ngri Estil ssil dtr

cunist sans ar cid n Bsls O ntlgica Tu 9 )

r a criical discussin f a lftist ntl s Carstn Srathausn d t Otl

y

y Relt t Plt Mnnais nivrsi f Minnsa Prss 009) articulaly

t cncludng Afrd y Bun Bsts rrind as Th Ontgcal T cid av)

On vil An ntrviw with Aain Baiu t 5 0010 at caintagazinrg



SB

SSN BK RSS

Ths is o ws Fom h md 90s i was Adoos os ssiv o ,

i h o x of h is of fasism, o d mosa h fau of h oo

ogia a mp o goud a phi losophy of B ig y saig fom h gv

wod o, H d gg ia laguag , o mov fom h

nc,

ha is, g

n)

i h s s of ha whih is mpially giv , o h ooogial, ha

whh is ss ialy u of xis

Dn

as h a pioi suu of

xs iali4 Adoo agu d ha ay oolo d iv d (o du d

fom h oi us h philosophial po io o ig auolo H

has a po, ad h poia mpliaios a s ious

Oolo id i s Id i was aah ma o Adoo, ad owh

mo so ha is poliial implaios - h id i w ul ad

ul d ha fasism afm d Id d, v paiam ay u a s

o p suppos a svig fo id i, wh y os sus om s a

d i is lf gadl ss of h uh o of ha os sus I is o

ha H d gg s philosophy (o ay xis ia ooo s is f

fasis (ha would a ooogial laim Rah , y a souio of

h qu sio of B ig

sus qu poliia aays s, h la hav

o philosophia aio Th y a susum d ud h ooogia a

piois

ha h ms lv s mus mai diff o h i o 8

Fo osm ahysial onolo, ss n anno a ans nd n a goy u mus main

imman n o is n As id gg i s h ss n " [ ] of his ni li s in is o

(Main id gg , B

e

ans ohn Maquai and Edad Roinson, [ Yok:

a

Ro, 196], 7 G man ogina, 4 Th ing f d o h ( ing ih a small

) is h 'gi n old h old hh

b (hih h is), hil onsious human ing is

onoogially und sood as

De

(' ingh )

5 oma uss ls m hod of h nom nologal duion ha inu n d Adono as a sud n

A h l l of h n h s is us d d sii y, and uh is a ma of

ua

ion h n asally an is mologa ol m Bu i is qu anoh hing o suos , y

d ling ino h suu s of h ni hat h y h ms l s a aal of dislosing a d ono

logial uh f suh an onologal dff n is imossl , as Adono laim d, h n h hol

o du is a sham

Adono ii d h li ala am naian noion of omomis as did Shmi u is ly

fo h oos d ason - ha h diff n s in osions no g a nough Adonos in il

of nonid ni - his laim ha h uh is no h saf middl ha ah

< e t

ould

in d olii aly as an unomomising m ans o his d moai nd

8 ' [T]h xis nial analyi of Dae [B ing ih a aia B] om s bf any syholo o

anhooo, and ainly fo any olo - i fo h ma ial od s of aual huma n

ings ( d gg , Be

ad e

7 G man, 45 O, in anoh aml , ools a m

' ingsahand and his xaml s h n ih hi h h i s f onoogal analysis d s

ni kno dg , h is no ay ha h onoogia d siion an dff nia t n h hios

oh s oolsahand and hos of a ok on an ass my ln (id 95-1 0 G man,

7-7 O, on h laonshi n hilosohy and h soial s n s W mus aays a n

mind ha h onologial foundaions an n dislos d y sus qu n hyoh s s d i d fom

mial ma al, u ha h y a aays h a ady n h n ha mial ma ial simly

g s

ce

(id 5; G man, 50



MM NIS HIS

9

xs nl onoogy is ms n n ssmng h on h h

o ing (H id gg s on puly gsp d i il n s

o h m mpil old nd llo us o gh s div s s

nd mlpii s und ph ilosophys on p und sndngs

in ys d o h xg ni s o ol v ion h d mnds

o pol i In h onoogil is n v poiil

A

ommons (o ommunis onoogy is ondion

ms

B, yo my s did no Mx hms ol n n h s y ngs

u l onoo s d on h ss Aiso n m h mn s y

n sol niml? A no h 1 mnusps n oon o

h m m d d y hisoily sp iiu , h n n x nd d

L

onoo o mns l nion om n (inuding hs on nd

om hs f o mn? Y s, n l, poi i his onolog

'm

a

n

d

o

s n

o

t

x i

st .

Ins d xsing s m n nd om n, nd

on, pis s nd o s gy nd sigh, nd h m nng o

h s goi s of ing s in no y s Mo ov h s d

n s

m l ss hn h h un mpoy d hv pson

ods o n dng o ing d po d And no m h

in h s oni ys, o ings do no n ly ino ou pos

s ons vv s, nhss, vng is T y sppo s,

onss Isl mss nd ( ommniss W soi nms,

y s u lso nisoi nd o niml n s ho

oghly m d d y so ys oning n foms Y s, h y Mx

d v op d p hiosophil onoogy Nohng olos om his po i

lly. o in doship s no h y gim d nd h

hol hony iss of fls onsousn ss ( mpiil vs mp d

s d

[J

onsosn ss s no h y sov d A

h sm im ph osoph i hough hs v y

gh - nd olgon

- o n v n v y in po iil l H is Mx on h s o

in ll p indng phlosophng:

Bu gin h n I m iv si nily . h n I m ngg d in

ivi hih I n s ldom p om in di ommn h oh s

h n I m so, us I m iv s mn humn ng No

ony is h m il of my vi gv n o m s so pod (s s

v n h ngug in hh h hn s iv my on xis n s

soil ivi nd h fo h hh I m o mys I m o



60

C MOR

mys o so ad wth th osus ss o mys as a soal

g

Agai o matt how d py o thks o s way to ths otologial

g aato o sp i potial o tato olows as a os qu .

It d si s th t l tual wok o H d gg ad Shmitt v y it as

muh as t do s that o Max o ou ow

Fo Max otologial phosophy was oly th statg pot a

l log pati o s ti thkg that d v lop d i spos to th

hstoal v ts suoudg hm. Though th ta toy o hs wok

th t tadto o W st

pi i

philosophy took a l t tu away

om m taphyss ad towads a gag m t wth th m gig soial

s s ooms athopoo soioogy psyholo - ud

stood ot th postivst daagath ig o astat math matial

oms ut as s s o hstoy ot hstoaliy h sto hsto

sm ad th ik ut o t mat a hiJ ry. Wth ths had t tu

(whh s a o tato that may o may ot volv m ts om th

gust tu th thal tu th a sth t tu polta phoso

phy mophs to soa th oy do tiv ly - that is taly. It

om s tal th oy.

Wh Max sad thkg was its a pat h m at t ths s s

H dd ot th ask What s th otoogial m ag o th

bing p

i?

Ist ad h t d to d out as muh as h ould aout th

soohstoal pat s o atua huma gs his tm

So th qu sto Maxs ay wtgs l av s us with s ths How do w

tu this soa - w ould say a d siptv way soal - at o ou

wok ad ou osous ss o ths wok as soal gs to a om

o

st pat ? How a w to o v o a ommoist ths? Not y th

ph om ologial duto to som ss o what t s to a soial

g: a ag ig a gtod ath a gwth ad so o as

H d gg popos d ut ath y a aalyss a omigosous

o

th sp i so th sp i a s th sp d aths that a

Rr C Tukr a"\ng R d sn n w rk \. Nrn

&

C. 97)

p Th riginl Grmn is

Alin uh wnn ih

'nc

ig in n igki i ih sln in un mlrr

Gmsh mi rn ushrn knn s n ih g!lh wi ls

[i. mn]

ig Nh nur s Mri mi nr Tigki is mir - wi sls Sprh in r nk r

tig ist - ls gsllshlihs duk ggn min �ne sin gsllshlih Tig;

rum ds ws ih s mir mh ih us mir r i Gslsh mh un mi m Bwusin

mn s ins gsllshlihn \sns



A MM NS IS

6 1

muln ou wh ou own no oon n h n o h m ou

( xp n v un qu n oy o u o hpp nng o

oh who h n oon

1

m n

iJ

p - p g

h glo n ul now

x

hng h lonh w n po n phloohy y

ng hng ou o h ol n Th hng h won hn Toy

phoohlly nv o n pupo o o v h y pln

no l nl pln h gu om

p n

y gv n qunul (h hn o ynm

un uu h p n on hun on Fo phoo

phy gong lon o h humn - o nomv hnkng n

nly o on n h Knn wol o o ough o n

v

y o N h nnp non h on o

uu vm nv h m n u onng ny Ev n

r phloophy h wh h pov n om whh h u

o h p umpon h n know on own Boh

ppoh - hough whou mp un nng n mp

un nng whou hough whou l on x m y

u p o on

nwhl xm ophn y oh o h m o

h

n n h humn k ogm o pov

know g o hn ( po o h pol m nng o v n on h

o nuol x ng v y mp o no p x

ng n p v m A h m o o hoy x gn o

n nhopomoph pl y llpow ul g ny Cpm

m mn v n xplo voouly o pv gn lgh n

h whl hwng ou mo n non mnng

hol ouom wh v n g hn ny H g ln

unnng o on ou pov

x v yon know u h m pl m on y hnu

o m Th g ook ll

Cpi

An xpou o

h onom p o h m nlung h po o hm

n on h m pp h h w o pl ou

n y

Now I gong o ou pon u o h p molog

on u n w n o ng n m ou o ny ol o



62 SS

CK-M RSS

h o ia oi aio - o ommu, o apial, o Max, o

oaiaia, o imp ial o isms a a . Th s a osmologial

sys ms, oomi s o li ha s m h m di val Chisoogial

oomy (knmi) i ha al h i l m s a i aly osis

ad ogiay saisg, as log as h is o oamaio y as o

v s ha , lik il gal ai s o som so, om h ousid . Th

simpl wods ommuis o soais, apialis o Maxis ad so o

a a di soy. h y a us d m y as d sipiv ad iv s, h y

o qualii s (d maios o o s i h wold, whih h y

d o s ha, i w a o os qu ma iaiss, mus hav

pioi ov h o ps w us o am h m.

oial pai , oo, is vul a o s duio y h ism. i s a

misak o adop aah o soial, Tosky o sam, adia

o paliam aia, as a sys m o i d miig o s aios

i adva . Codios hag , ad pai ds o spod o w

siuaios . S i sa pow so as o ool is id ologial appaaus s ?

Y s, u wha i, a h gloal asomaio o apial, h sa is l

has om a id ologial appaaus? Bas o s poliis o a aahis

sp o d moai ag y? Asolu y. Bu o i ha m as yi ldig

o

h maipulaiv ais o ighwig popuism i is i asigy

wid sp ad oms.

To say, wih Alhuss , ha Max aado d his ay humaism o a

si o hisoy impli s ha Maxis si is ashisoia ad

al, a oologial s piip immu o p is ly h hisoial

sp ii o whih i isiss - as i si w o is l hisoial. (W

hav o ly o hik o h hisoial limis o h si o ado o

Malhus, o, giv h p s isis, o h Chiago Shoo o oo

is,

o mak ha poi l a. To agu , wih N gi, o a hisoial oolo

as d o a si i ud sadig o h po ss o apialis lass sug

gl is a duious al aiv N gi was o add hisoial oig y o

h m, a h sam im oug o a oologia x o avod h

dag s o aivism ha oig y impi s H do s o go o h

ass suggl as h

prim ph!Jphi

h phiosophi s piipl , o

whih h who poiial po is goud d. Bu i,

p

N gi, h a

o ooo o hiso, i is aus hisoy is h alm o huma

dom, ad

hrf

h am o h up dial i hough as w ll as i

gr ful o Ad Jlli of fo g nl qu sioning oi of h i l for ook

Thnkng P .t o mm nd Ct l Thoy on th

on p is l h s gounds

Copr Adoos insist n on th priori o h oj

ong d Ok



A C MM NIST ETCS 63

prati At ths point, rath r than ting to v lop an ontoo of f

om, w n to ogn f oms supsng, an tng ap aran

n th wor

I am showing my tru olous I am an inorrgil pragmatst wh n

t

om

s to rtia

th oy. But that s not pragmat in Ros o v n

D w ys

s ns (an it has nothing to o with ng an Am ian) It is

os

to what B t B ht si (an amir ) as

plp Dnkn

n

on l gant thning. So, fo xampl , wh r th l gant phosoph r

woul sov a on pt y s ahing fo th lassial G m aning

of

a t rm,

I ta my l a from mo n G

iki

th st t

languag of th p opl

()

that aong with th soal sa

sponsiili of th Gr s th ms v s, s arg ly san y th

uop an

int llig ntsia

a pga a

in mo n G r f s to th

pratial th ings thatyou us n ay xist n In G man

K!a n

in th s ns of th stuff that - though it might loo li un to oth rs

you n an us v y ay

D ploy n this s ns a pragmati approah to oing th o as a

s mlan to th point that th Nig ian nov list Wo Soyna ma

wh n h ritii th un staning of

ngri

as ontolo y sayng:

A tig r o s not polaim its tigitu h poun s H at lari : a

tig r o s not stan in th fo st an say I am a tg Wh n you pass

wh r th tig has wal fo , you s th s l ton of a ui , you

now

that som tigitu has manat th

Soyina aanons ontoo fo som thing los to what I m an y a

th o tial pagmats. 3 It is a pati of th oiing wh r y things

aqui m anng aus of th r patal, pragmati r ationship with

oth things, an th s lationships ar onstantly op n onstantly

p aous. Th ir futu annot p it in avan

Now f w w r int r st only in th mpiial si n of tg pa

ti , w woul haviourists, os rvng from a saf istan what a

tg o s But as polit ial atos in th mist of hngs w ar u< s

an ui s n to now th lat st n ws

2 Soyina, it d in Miha l Rihadso, d,

R f S Sur !m nd e C rb n

(London V so, 99) p .

3 Of ous , Ahill M m is asolut ly ight to point out that

ngrue

as not a p hiosophy of

ist pinipl s ut a fully ngag d po itia l pati . W ha to anol dg that th t s ho

th oiz d ngrue ngag d in a pagmats of ount h g mony ith al insttuiona ad

poltia ts (Ahi l M m , s mina, ommitt o Gloalizat ion and Soial Th oy, UY

Gaduat nt , S pt m 2 ) . S also gg a hiongo, Gb e Ter nd e P

Knng

Yo lumia Uni si ss, 2 2) , p. 23



4 BUK-M RSS

Can w imagin nin wiou a n wsa ? O Max o H g , fo

a ma ? Max wo fo n wsa s aou v ns fa away fom

uo ooniaism in India Cina ad US Civi Wa And H g

was fomuaing dia i of mas and slav aus of Haiian

R voluion a ad aou in su ssiv issu s of oliia iodi

a

inr

nin l us m m did no x vouion would a n a

in Russia a al o in summ , o v n fall, of 9 7 Bu allow d

is

oy o yi d o isoia d v om ns as y auay ou d.4

T isoia v n a suis s - is is adia ali o wi

nin main o n H I am in oal ag m n wi Badiou gad

ing oliial nai of v n and on sam ag as w n

s ss s asolu un diaili of v n a an

sou of m g n of adially n w Bu I would a i i s

wi aans fomulaion in ways a Badiou do s no I is no u

a un s a ol in now dg Ra , i is soial aion And

u a su aion v as is ossiili of uman f dom So if

w u og id a of agmais and id a of v n w g

pgm f Jny poJ

as an x ssion of uman f dom And

a is no a ad d niion of wa a om monis is woud imy

So n in in gan anguag of

ppJ Dk

n io

soially infus d qu sions a a agmais of sudd nly ossi

woud n d o as a s

1 Was a ning? (T agmai a naiv isoial

onoo.

2 Was n w? (Is an v n going on ?

S L

L

n Re a

t

t Dne? n n

Chg Hmk Bk

28, n h u h wk pll Gmn S m wh w h mph l

Mn g h h Run Rvln m nd tr Pp nt

l h Blhvk vu h m lvn h h p hv nv

d np h vnd h gpp n h ww g

k 1 tht w n h lt gl pnnu gll d. n h S

Eug nd L n v lmng 'Fm h p m hd h m

m h 1 m Blhvk nd pud n 2 h n pdn m jl h S

dd, wn ml v Th jl V Bg pd n lld: 'W

H l Cd Cptlm - d w th Sl nddt ld t S Cg Cnvd

und p A w dnd h Cg t wh h w w

vtd h lt.

5 Lnn Rn Blku . er the al: ra

nnn a n the Futu f

Sc Nw k V 1 p. 67.

6 An Bdu

en

a n EPw Olv Flhm (w k Cnuum 2



A N

65

3.

Wha g s? (Wha suu s of o a sudd ny y lng o

aos n h n?

Whas gong on? (A an suu s

Ot

n h po ss of

hang ?

And only h n do g o h Bg Qu son:

W1 o o

(Wha s o don ? s h ong anslaon of

Ct

?)

W mgh ay o h s u sons o a hl o h m n a ommon

s

mod

Th n s no a mal ha o om s us h a and s s us

do

n fs us s ly aus s aompsh d y odna ol

ho n up usn ss as usual n od o a ol ly mpo ng

no only hos ho a s n, u hos ho n ahng, f l a m n

dous

sug of soda and s ns of human

og h n ss n (da

say ? un sal W n ss h aual of human ngs onng

og h o o om a s, o na hang hs apa o a n

ommon s h a poss of a ommons hs

Th soda odu d n h s ao, mad famous y Kan n h

as of h F nh R oluon, has om n ns n h l on ag

Un

n Kans m , and also n n s as sons l o ag of

oa aon ha d h alan n faou of nono n ssan

(T o may a oa ool [Badou , u s a y un nsum n

as hsoaly da d, has as h hydog n om n n y as,

n h anan on o ss of 2009 0 and houghou h asmn

oluons of h Aa Spng h o of nono n o s has

mul d xon naly

Fo Kan aus of h oodn ss of F nh ouonay ns

Bou on wh s o o :

[]h us o rror n volon rumss or vl wr o s no ll m h h l

s n m lns sn o h h ss h ossl o n l Ev . T ro s

oll ool h hs n n us s long s hum sos hv s. shoul hro

jg s oll ool n no sm o nlng mol jgm n. shol

h r s o ro. Our l rl ouns now how o us rl.

S o o hs lur 'Aln Bou Phlosoh Vh s o B on? 2 ) ouu .om

Hs o hs onf r n lr s vol s no n ss on on o h ommns

.)





A C MM NIS HCS

6

onomy - a

ommons a if was on C on id os

n

o s and sa iol n in w Bu A a s away n

ow w n d sins on and iad as afoms fo os fom

n,

and

w n s foms dmnis usal of yoad, ma

sin ins ad n n as a la of onsumion, w us s' aions

a monio d and sod as nfomaion

On s ond l, was a nn s an a of n aon To

now wa s a nn, yond ually m da d s ns on

(w, w n m ans s n d os of ual owads unam d

o s s, s mos unanimousy and uni saly oos d mom n n

n, is o nam aion and a in on x I is a

iful, of n on nous wok of olia analysis ins, and s on

mos as l Wa a w o all s mom n

of i n aion? Is

d moay a w a wn ssin? Y s, su y Bu y all in is , w

a ady s m o su s a oy of ns: su ss n m ans

foundn olial a s, oldin ions, and d lan loya o a

s ua naonsa a lays y d min d u s of i n

wold od n o wods, a w is sudd nly ossl n an n

s o folow ad of s folam d d moai s a a a ady

sals d Bu non of os s s n ssaily fol lows fom wa as

a n d, wi, fo old, s lfoaim d d moa s s a aus fo

alam T nown s s, on s y a a n, du m anin of

sudd ny ossil o a w n s If w n s qu s

ion, Wa's n w? , answ nds u n no mu

Bu wa f uy nfu soa aon nia d n Tuns Caio and

s w is a iously unmain d suu of oiis - no

un sal on s sa an of naonsa d moay a, n

alowin fo diff n of uually luais on xs, sum s an

na i fo wo nuyold, uoAm an foms (wi a

s n a sondn adly o loa onom s s a

onomi insuons aus d, u a ms of

l

oa soidai w n

naional and uual d ni s a sus nd d, and uni is ons

qu n , no of wo you a u, a , wa you do? L us al s a

om

onis a T wol o ss of a of o s and s

22 w n n in Hgl i wl is mm in h

ncylpda Lgc

h

l g h mivs, hi ins: ' [H] , h ssni

iw gl l s g n i ms si h s w d

his sm sin h iiis wh ws hn ll gmi hisigh ig (i ns

s 'gmi hs wh whl i h hsil s m

v ning h hn snl vn ils, s Hgl mis h s s in



68

AN BCKM R

viu ss minion s, in s non xlusion, hoionl ognionl

oms, illin mni sion o quiv ly i n ommonis

h, onng o h su ny poss pow o go so. his s

h n w h v ls is l in his v n - n v n h is l ss uu

hn n op nng o niv s o h giv n s o hngs

h i h woul o oppos Shms n Agm ns ni ion

o h sov gn s h who s in s o m g ny, uning s

mol i n is g ny ins i ou, n w n o his y uning o

h six nh nuy m nng o h ngish wo, m g ny, s h

oniion o m g n . h s o m g ny h ou s sis

o h sov ign is li ing possli fo h sov igns su s -

mom n fo h m g ny o n w siuon, possi h su

ivi s l n nsom

Fny, on 2 S p m 20 h

N Yrk m

ough o mn

s m m i h igg s o iil so oh y , ofiy know ging

wh hs n hpp ning ong A ong soy u og h h

gol pi s: h A Sping Ini s supo o Ann H s hung

sik , Is l ii ns pous po ss, ys o ong in Ah ns n

onon, h Ingnos R puli in Sin s w ll s ii n

sl ns of h xlu h ongoing n vi s s om hi

Squ o h l So o uoi W n o : h m

ng v o i ns in Sy, Y m n n Bhin who, wih no h lp

om NAO, p ss in h o vio n p sson y gov nm ns, h

l gimy o whih h y s sy us o ogn

A Sing, uo n Summ , W S F W win ssing

glol sol mov m n h ms iv s n univ si, oh

ss n s in on s ons 'i ms ogniz h h g m n wi wh h i n

i wh h wil l On o s no n o o his n h ohi s o gu non h

ss h s lonsious ol v on insi s us is l us vin s humn ossiil

o son in ss ing sul wih in h o v goo n i ion ls us h

wh so t l ims is in o s lin s is n ws m it h in ss o oh s - n in

is s n in ivu is om is l li ning S H g

nype gic

gh 10

3 his lingisi onn ion o s no wok in mn ( m g n = nthnq) u noh

onn ion o s \h o h sov ign is su n s o m g n (in mn is o

su s uu o h v n o is nl iousn ss n ov (in

mn )

\h s h sov ign s o isis wih lighn ing s n ioil ow

h is no im o l gl ni s - h sov igns sj s hv no n o mov qui kl h

mn m o ng o m g To s \ B njmin s img hs vol ion is no

p

M h oomoiv o his u h hing humn iing in in o h m g n

(Ntm

B iols Kuli s (wi n ok ol l gu s En Bonn in l Aviv n Jim l in

w lh i Chin s o ss in Lu ng is om l i An w Jos wih i on

ing (4 S m 0 1 ).



A C MM NIS EHIS

69

on

C ay t s adal sng to a t th gv n ul s o th gam

s t a tn to th l ? has ths nom nlat an no long us d

and ths at too s whats n w n o y g ogaph staton l t

tu

ns

a poston d d ntly on th gond h y a loal n o ntaton

and n ssay pla Ths among many thngs s paat s gloa

ommonst aton om ghtwng populsm Wh th latt mashas

ang at th gloal dsod to supot gd d oog s o n onatona

sm

mak t pvataton and antmmgaton th y ooptng

gassoots mov m nts o th n t o xstng potal pat s th

tan

sloal onst llaton o o s us s to natonally o otaly

ontan d Fo l t' and ght to mak any pota s ns th hav to

od s t toa od s tw n natons and atsan od s

wthn th m Th n w atvsts a nwllng to s du d y th h to

o

dvd andul A th y matay nav ? s ths an v nt at a ?

V

What gv s? Wals al ants a an an an mmgants son

s l t d p sd nt o th nt d Stat s But what go s on? What ontn

s thogh a th s tansomatons? Maxsts w t l yo: th goal

atalst syst m and th answ s not wong Wh n Wa n B tt

polam d (sp akng th tuth pow : th s ass waa alght

and

w a wnnng h ould hav add d woldwd At a tm lk

ous today wh n w a onsd ng a n w otal gnnng th

600pound gola n th oom s ada pot s' ast ts d t to Maxs

analyss o aptal that d alt nt ns ly wth onom n qal otlnng

a th oy o goal xpotaton o and and laou a da ta hstoy o

lass stuggl and a atonal o th n ss o olta vouton n

od o human so to mov owad

N v n my l tm has th Maxst tqu o aptal and ts gloal

dynams s m d mo auat And n v has

s m d mo wong to

go ak to Max n ts hstoal oms At ast though th 1 960s

Maxst th o was th lnga ana o atvsts gloal no matt how

muh th y dsag d on th po nt taton (Sov t otskyst

Maost hmanst Th all o th Sov t n on and th adoton o a

talst m nts y th R p o Chna d at a ata low to ths

ommonal At th sam tm Maxst th o old not wthstand th

stny o mnst ostolona tal a and oth th osts and

oth s who xt nd d th m anng o o sson and xplotaton a



ond wha ha ns on h aoy oo n is d nion o human

uni sali Maism was oinial a s And is logi o n d

minis was my lodg d in a oy o hisoial sag s a has n

shown o simly inaua - y Sami Amin Jan AuLughod and

Di sh Cakaa, o nam a w

And h id a o oluiona o aia? Is h woking lass as

oliial anguad si ll l an oganiaional om? Oial unions

no a o h m, u oo many and oo o n ha a d as gous ha

do no is ao onois on ns Cl aly, laou o ss oninu o

ma in innoai ways Fom Su , , wh nonoia unions

lay d a uial ol in mow ing Tahi aiiss y h i own

ow o lok h Su Canal, o Xinang China, w migan wok

s ook o s s o o s agains ing d ni d a ss o asi

ii n ighs, o Madso, Wisonsin wh h ig o oll i

againing was und aak o wok s ounils and oh laou

gous ha a om o Ouy Wall S in suo, laou ogan

iing mains a uially imoan loaion o sugg Bu no only a

mos os in mos a s in h wod oday nonunion Th asons Ma

agu d o ioal imoan o ogani d woking lass may no

long hod . Th wag a , as aial aial , was suos d o

a o os quaion in h oduion o ss a n is o down

wad ssu (as oos d o h d aial o mahin s u, as w

a s n, i unions y a di n logi wh n oduii limina s

os om y T In naiona Laou Oganiaion sima s ha

h num o un mloy d wok s wodwid is 200 million. A Janua

20 Gallu oll u wold un mloym n a 7 n wok

o . T young g n aion is aiuay hadi . n moy d ouh

5 as skg a os po r r aar of co cos asloca po ss

o f 0 :

scos R p. aul Rya a s g sa R pul ca a o Tusday qua d

pro ss agas s o sa Go. Sco Walk rs (R udg pla o ordsorc d o

sraos Ep a las k l d o fall of sd os uarak. s g g ros

I s lk aos o d o adso s days Rya sad o S Bs

1omin9 J

Aala a asoy.co. cas f Xag : s cur clapdo s y ar s aso g raly

au d o pro ss rol g ddl Eas ad o Afrca c s aor s do

a o s a d r cou alal a psog For sgcac of uofcal Su

uos Eps spg s 'Srkg Su Uos Fu l Upsg af r

0 Y as of Laor

Ogag a d ocacyoog.

6

S U s S o u ploy a uog

7 s accordg o Los Ag s s 9 Jauary 0 1 1 Wodd u poy s aou

7% Galup sur y ds a la slogs.la s.co.



MM NIST HIS

7 1

toay, wolwi f a ss th status o fa oomially ssa aou

s v amy tha ig oomiay ssa a sup uous popu

atio of p ma tly xu xp al huma igs A that is a

a

lly

fight ig

(ut at th sam tim , ial tially pow fu8

asw

to

th

qu stio Whats w?

As th m gaiti s of th glo mak vi t, massiv pol taiaia

tio of th wokfo has i tak pla But fatoi s hav l ft th

iti s a mov to lav s t is stikig that th migat wokfo s

th y mpoy hav show th ms lv s to makay apa of oll

tiv atio, spit th i p aious positio, a spit thi a

iguisti iff s A y t th i ow osmopolita osious ss

m

ais

fa i ava of what has ahi v y atioally ogai

politial pati s

Wh

is th volutioa ass? This may th wog qu stio to

ask haps ith at goy ith voutio ass - has th

ssay tatio i ou tim Fist: Is soi tal tasfomatio ay og

aout volutio i th lassialmo s s ? t has og my suspi

io that th Iaia R volutio of 979 was th ast i a log taitio

that has u its ous , wh th i poatioaist atiooia, axist

o th oati fom Khom iis politial istitutio of sov ig pow

W

aya aLFaq was a p soal iv tio fo ig ot oly to W st

taitios ut aso to Sui Islam a v Shiit poiti thought A

y t,

his tiumph i a viol t ivi wa has afiti s with th F h

R voutioa poto i may of its istiguishig haat istis

polog fatii t s of thousas of pol itial x utios uig

th itualisti h aigs of politial mi s fo th pui a ta

to

of asig aialism a ig of vitu a Th mioia atio of

authoitaia taiatio a, ay, a Gioist fo ig poliy of

voutioay xpasio But if you a sp a volutio y twitt ig

you tiumph to th wol why hoos th path of a fo ig ivasio?

Toay, th vi otap h aigs of aom

¥

itims o s ot hav th

sam ff t as gii o th ow of iti s at th a la

Rvolutio t i s ot f lt y th gloal puli as usti v g ik th

oig of ivilias, th uloig of hous s , a th totuig a

28 Z k s asolu ly cor pog s ou: 'As s log r ac s s r m ould o

r asoa o g o s s f gao : s o a sys m d rs 80 p r c of p opl rr l

a ad s ss

,

n nd f n

'

Slao

Z

k F · gd Thn F (odo:

V rso 2009 p 03

29 S au Aposolds B k. n th Ch n: Wh t mmg nt C n h Am bu

Dm (M apos U rs of M soa r ss 20 10



72

SSAN BCK-M RSS

.

hum ao o so s s p c v d as huma ad wog. bsaco

h r works da cca whou h gmag aguag o h p rp

aos whou h co xua r gv m ags h v wg o

vo c owards h ow rl ss vok s a af cv vsc a r aco om

goba obs v rs who cs b caus h sc s ak ou o co x

r spod cocr ad wh mpah. Fracd h bood sugg o

cv wa as h m as o soca asomao s shosgh d as h

uh ad coca o poc ss ha mus oow pov s omous df

cu. d as Th mdora acos ma cl ar s a as o smash

h

od od ha o cosuc h w

So much o vo vouo. Bu a w a do wh cass? Th

600oud goa s s wh us: h ac ha hs goba capas

wod vua acoss h boad g opoca h ch k g g

ch ad h poor poor r ad hos pow a om o sg

us ha hs ss m ds g a sp ca o co fa g a ha ha

gv o h cz s h ms v s Fr mak s (ucoo d caas

accumuao) ad soc s (W s s d mocac s) hav jo d

hads ad h droduc s goba ogach Th soca d commu

o aos pro cs a goba ss m o cosu s whch woks o aro

pa v us vau ha ca b u d o a romakg d avour

Nohg o schoos o prsos o huma g s o wd as o

h aoa am o fo g gov m s ohg s x mp om hs

poc ss o prvazao

So h

i

cass wara b g wag d om h o dow Bu s h r

cass wa? O h r s o h wod h 99 c of us spods

kd. (v War Buff s o hap wh h o h s suos d

o

a) I wa o opos h d a ha h who o o pocs s o am

h m (Schms r d/ m dsco) ad o srucur o 's

poca orgazg a sum a wa od r o d a ha m.

gosc ocs s a muua d d soca r aosh. Boh

sd s mus pa h gam . P haps ohg woud a o cos rvav

hads mo sur ha d g ou ssac o h ob ra cap

as od h m d ad radoa ms o cass wa. P haps

ohg woud mak h auho s mo v d ha Occup Wa

Sr b cam a vo mov m b caus h sa coud h jus

usg

poc vo c o pu dow. Bu h vas majo h 99 p r

c hav h forc h d sh r umb rs ad do o qur am d

sugg o pov h po. d ha po s h ss m uo whch w

d d h ss m ha s coroag mo ad mo o ou wod s



A MM NIST ETHIS

73

o o ou o oo s pushg aoa ad mmoa o

adous wods ua ad aa.

A wod ommu o d moa ad sov g aosa s was

sup

pos d

o h d o hso o h d ohuma. Bu wha a w o

mak o ou wod as d o asud oados whh h d moa

a d paam o G ax s h p op o d suo od o

sa

v

h

ao ? O h ao o Iaq s a d h d suo o s

asu

u ad h d ah o dspa m o 20 p o h popuao?

Th og has d d som hg dam a ommo wh ha o h d

Wa

wh h apa o d so o h pa was h god sadad o

a s u a wh posooa vag s am w om d

o olo

od o sav h haas &om omusm.

Ths s a pa soa haou ad s az A ommos hs

qu s us o sa so Th soa d ho o z vo s s o

dom

ad s o a ho 3 W 's h ss s so d o a auoo: h

apas sa pou s h oj vz d sp o apasm whh po

du s h apas h a a u o h sam

v

Th gow o opmsm wodwd wh Baak Oama wo h US

p sd 200 was a as (ad os) ha o v ha h ss m

was apa o ghg s . Oamas oa o h wo pas o h

wod od apas ooms ad aoa s s hs p s

d has d mosa d h akup o oh . Gv ha mak s

a so hav a d o d v as huma ds a h wods

z s ask d o hop aga? O ous h aao s xagg a d

ad h poa m g s quaav d Oama s happ

o a ass ad sadl o soas ough - u o s m d o a

xhag w A Sp ad Ado H Mah 1 9 as h

Sov am os d o B . was ag o dsov Sp had

ok d hs od s u h am d dow ad sad a ax d o :

Sp ou a ov ous ha h wa s o os ou a

ou o u ou o . .

You kow ao ov d o ha p d s u

whou d a . Th wa s os.

30 egels ccs o eal deocacs udesadig of fee coce as fo feedo ece

'o eedo self a al s pee ee (See egel i paagap 45)



7 SSAN BK-M RSS

Hl r lauch d o h s r cos . . of oh r dfcul suaos

hs

f , suaos whch a had s m d os bu whch h had

mas r d . . . [H] surprsgl ow r d hs d mad f ou would

b l v ha h war ca sl b wo fou could a l as hav fah

ha, a ll would b w l l . .

Aga d . . sad cao, wh h b s w h world . .

Oc aga H r r duc d hs d mad o a formal prof sso of fah

f o could a l as hop ha w hav o os You mus c ra b

abl o hop . ha would b ough o sas m '

d d o asw r.

Th r as a log, awkward paus . A las H r sood up abrupl . . .

You av w four hours o hk ov r our asw r Tomorrow l

m kow wh h r ou hop ha h war ca sl b wo . Whou

shakg hads, h dsmss d m .3

Aga, h po of comparso s o o of l ad rsh p. s o l o

po o ha hop , oo , ca b a d olo cao h lp f lg h a

Obama hms lf s awar of hs dag r, sur havg b l v d h

d mocrac proc ss ha brough hm o l coral vcor such a shor

m ago. Obama was fod of r p ag, Ths s o abou m .' Ad h

was pr cs l corr c. was o . Bu h hms f lack d fah h

p opl who h ad l c d hm. Obama s proud o ca l hms f a pragma

s. H us forgo o hg a mpg o b r alsc wh h

co s of h cra saus quo, h b ra d h pragmacs of h

sudd possbl , whch s, af r all, h forc ha l c hm h

rs plac . s a global forc , ad d sp ra l was chag . s h

ol sa polcs h world ow h as.

A

h s mom , b g pragmac h s s of b g cauous,

proc dg r asoab wh h rraoal who , s h rul rsk pah .

Wll h word's l ad rs r cogz h s? ll h wak up o h fac ha

h ss m h r l o s bakrup, ad ha h r pow r r ss o ar?

As h pa ms Nawal Sadaaw urg d las sprg mak our

ow r voluo. Th was forward wll b as var d as h p opl of hs

world mss global h av augh us h d for such var .3 l

3 l Sp c d colas S ' s Th e

,

'

ook w Ct

Hon 9

008

3

3 S ll a Es s a d Cada oa 'I Suppo of Occupy Wall S emn r

pos d 4 Oco 0 , a f sw co



A N TI

7

o h s was oward d s rv our sodar ad suppor W , h 99 p r

,

mus r us o b om vsb o ah oh r Th xp rm s ha

ar gog o ow housads o oaos d spa , h spa ha

a r

jam a d a Sp (spa o pa) o r dog h gs

d r d h d m , h sowg o m , h pug o h

m rg

brak , so ha som hg w a m rg . Ths s m ha

sa pow r was o u shor, ad spa ha ods poa par s

wa o or os

Th r

s o rush . Th sowg o m s s h w b gg

Ev r da ha hs v ou s, p rorms h possb ha h

word a b oh rws gas h h g mo o h pr s word ord r

ha pass s s o as aura ad ssa goba aors ar arg a

ho kow dg N w orms m rg Th oursh our magao,

h mos rada pow r ha w as humas hav .

33 Badiou cqu o apal ap

aov g o pon .





5 Communist Desire

Jod Dean

a wde ed essa pbshed 1999 Wed Bow ses Wae

Beam

s em e meaho o dagose a meahoa o he

oempoa e

e oe he essa whh ose aks

Sa

Ha's dssso o he se o Thahesm s o aaze he

eas ad axees o a e de e a e ha s bakwadsookg

se

pshg aahed o s ow ae ad seemg apabe o

evsog a emapao egaaa e Tme ad evoave

Bows essa o ma seemed o ape a h abo he ed o a

ea seqee o he Noh mea Bsh ad opea e

ed o he e ds ad oss oasoed b he ds egao o he we

pevos hed ommo b he dsose o ommsm he

wods o he aoabe oss ad avowed shed dea

oempoa sged b he ems Lf , oL o mOmn

Bow povded a oppo o ee o he aes ad o

es e pojes ems o he deses ha ssa hem. He

eame o a os hsoa moveme hs sggesed a kd o e

omg o gps wh o ag o ea: he ea o eobea ap

asm ad he deea o he weae sae

Read om he vaage po aoded b moe ha a deade howeve

Bows essa s ess ovg o ow appe

s o e s bas

ao o wha was os ad wh He dssso o Beam s msead

g

He eame o ed s oesded Noeheess b aazg he

e ems o a geea se o dese esabshg he oos o a

ke mode o e heozg Bow opes p possbes o eoev

g omms dese possbes o exed hs essa.

eWg Meaho s he e o Bejams 191 evew o he

W dy ow 'R ssg f aoly Bund 6: 3 (uum 1999)

.

19-7.

Id.

.

.



78 J D DN

poe o ch Ksne3 Ksne was a weegae poe noves

an

jounas dung he Wema peod. Ksnes sobeng sae

appeae o mdebow eaes aace b s seemng unadone

an hones poaa o a sak ea Benjamn hmse dspaages

Ksne s poe. He descbes as gvng wa o he compacenc an

aasm o hose who ae mos emoe om he pocesses o poucon

and whose obscue coung o he sae o he make s compaabe o

he aude o a man who eds hmse up ene o he nscuabe

accens o hs dgeson 4

n a uhe essa, The uho as oduce Benjamn uses Ksne as

he exempa o he new objecv a ea movemen ha Benjamn

agues has made

t trugg agant povr

an objec o consumpon. 5

Cng a pecepve cc n ac hmse, wng n eWng

Meancho Benjamn quoes hs eae pece:

Wh he wokes movemen, hs ewng adca negensa has

nohng n common s , ahe a phenomenon o bougeos decompo

son . . The adcae pubcss o he samp o Ksne, Mehng

o Tuchosk ae he poeaan mmc o ecaed bougeos saa

The uncon s o poduce, om he poca sanpon, no aes

bu cques om he economc sanpon, no poduces bu agens

agens o hacks who make a gea dspa o he pove, and a

banque ou o awnng empness.

s a as Benjamn s concened, ewng wes such as Ksne have

no soca uncon ohe han endeng he poca suaon no amus

ng conen o pubc consumpon The ansm he appaa o

poucon ahe han ansom , assmang evouona hemes

no he bougeos appaaus o poducon an pubcaon whe n no

wa pacng n queson he exsence o he bougeos cass Benjamn

wes, ene a hack as a we who absans n pncpe om aena

ng he poducve appaaus om he ung cass b mpovng n was

3 Wale e jam 'eWg elacoly a y e Bewe cael \ eg

owad Ead ad Gay Sm ed

War Bnjmin, Sld Wn}:

19311934,

o. pa

(amdge : arvad Uve e 999 pp. 43-7

4 Id. p 46.

5 Wale Bejam 'The uor a oduce a. Edmd Jeco d. pp 768. ll

empae orga ue oewe dcaed

6 d p. 776.



C MMNIST ESRE

79

s

v

g

ss o socalsm Mos g all u B jams cqu

bo

Wg M lacol ad T uo as Poduc ag s

ll cual comoms adaao o mak ad b aal o

wok s

mov m aculal soa as s comoms adaao

ad b aal baks o ad cas au c voluoa muls s al ad

a o v da ol aa l .

Bow clams a

l

noly

s B jam s uambval

o

voluoa ack wo s, al l aac d mo o a acula

olcal aalss o d al v o alu o a d al a o s z

g ossbl s o adcal cag s 8 I dsag Now

s v w o Ks do s B jam aul m o a lg g aac

m o

ol cal d als B jam ac mak s oos o

cod mg Ks o wg o ms a a bld o aco b caus

b a v cs l ollows o s accodg o wc oo c

olks la blu s B jam d scb s Ks s lcsm as o cg

abov all saus ss o mddl saum ag s joualss

ads o d am s . oc abl

abados a slg ow

aga

s bg boug os , ad b as s ag o aoag w a

a l sg I ol w a doz ws m w a g a d al o

mo . Ks s m lacol

s a os a aso d, a commod.

H s o aac d o a d al as comoms d voluoa d als

b

ducg m o cosum oducs

P as b caus occuao s mo w ad quac s o

co moa l a w B jams dscusso o wa s vc

ll cuals do o boug os w u voluoa m s

o cosum co s Bow do s o masz comoms o

l m lacolc s ad s ads B jams cqu o Ks as

sugg sg a s m s ms lv s b com gs o l m la

colc wo ak s as muc d ac s o om sual goods as

boug os do ma al goods Bow loca s s d

loss a o o coac w co moa l : W com o lov ou

l assos ad asos, ou l aals s ad covcos, mo a w

lov xsg wold a w sumabl s k o al w s ms

o uu a would b alg d w m .

I s moa o o a Bows couao d s om

d.

.

776 77.

8 Bow R stg t lacoy

0.

9 d.

.

46 44.

10 d.

.

1 .



80

Beams. Beam s o cczg a e fo s aachme o lef

passos easos aalses ad covcos Rahe he s calg o

Kse ad he ew obecv ed fo e compomse ad e

eslg meamoposs of polcal sgge fom a compso dec

so o a obec of pease fom

a meas of podco o a

ace of cosmpo

He dedes Kse ad ohe lefadca

pbc ss as compomsed eecals who evooa eexes

o obecs of dsaco of amseme wch ca be spped fo

cosmpo ad eadl pchased a he elgesas depame

soe. Ulke Bows Beam's lef melachoc sbmaes ef

commme o evolo ad e poeaa. ew obecvs he

faascall gves wa o e bogeos vso of e exsg wold

sead of holdg fas o e evooa sgge of e poeaa o

eogaze ad asfom podco

Bow ages:

f e coempoa Lef ofe clgs o he fomaos ad foma

os of aoe epoc oe wc e oo of ed movemes

socal oales ad cassbased polcs appeaed o be vable caego

es of polcal ad eoecal aalss hs eas ha ea

edes self a cosevave foce hso - oe a o ol mseads

e pese b sa adoasm e ve ea of s paxs

he pace whee commme o sk ad pheava belogs. 3

o pese of deabe eqa class wa ad ogo capas

css he elevace deed he ecess of ed movemes ad cass

based aalss s deabe a wa a peaps was o whe B

was wg a e ed of e ees. Ts cla elps llmae

Beams ow poso as oppose o he oe Bow akes. a s hs

coce s o w a aoalsm a he ea of paxs b ahe w

e sblmao of lef deas makeoeed wg ad pb sg.

efWg Melacol e ao Beam admes s Bec

e Bech f commed o comms evolo he Bech Bado

descbes as makg Maxsm o coms o a codo fo e

qeso of he beg of a. coas o Bech's poems Kses

Bja 'Wg Mlacoly

45.

d

44.

Bow 'Rssg Maoly

5.

4 la Bado

T ntu

as. lro Tosao (adg UK: Pol 007

2.

DI DEN



C MMNST SR

8

B jai wr s a ov d fro h roc ss of oducio d ach d

ro h abour ov ad a a disac fro u lo . Th

ar for o h hgh co back hos ourfu acho c

du s who a ahg ad ao h ah'. Ks 's

o s ad sar such wrgs aca h rasssio ad

oducio of h cass ow of h boug ois Th a ua a

co

s rvaiv

soca forc . o o Marxs d as o u d ov

s

ad cassbas d ocs is o. B jai s s Ks as coic

wh h subiaio of voluoa d s cual boos his

o s hav o o do wih au c ha wh subv so Uk

Brows B ja's l acholc s h o who gv s wa o copa

c c

ad faai s' c dg d sir k h saa d a who ca o og

d vo a hs o o hs soach

Wha

h of achoa? Th os valuabl as c of Bows

aass co s fro h ur o uds 97 pa o achoia o

rovd a accou of a aricua f sucur of d sr . s is w

kow

ud disigush s achola fo ouig Mouig

sods o h oss of a obj c of ov wh h ha obj c is a so

a cour r do o a d a Ov h i of ourg h subj c

afu ad c a cofos h a of h oss. Sow sh

whd

aws h aach fo h os obj c. Th wok of ourg

is

co wh h subj c s aga f uhb d ad caab of

ov

s i ouig h lacho c subj c s s a abs c of

i r s h ousd wod ad a g ra hbo of aciv. Th

cuca dff r c s ha h lacho c s ow g of s gad is

af s a s l f oach ad s lf vl g ha xc ds s fuish

ad x ds o h v ov cog of h sc which co ls

v r

ivg h g o cg o i f . Th d ah dv h forc of oss

foas h sucu of driv is f:

Th achoic disas so hg ls b sds whch s ackg i

ourg a xaorda diuio his s f gad a ov

ih of h s go o a grad sca . ouig s h wod whch

has b co oor ad achoa is h go is f. Th

5 B jam 'L fWg laoy

.

6.

16 Id.

17 Sgmd ud 'oug d laoa S n don of

th omplt Pyholog l

ok ofSmu Fu VolumXV 996 On h Hoy t Py;oAn lyc nn P p on

pyol n Oth ok, .

37-58 d J Sa y (Lodo: oga P ad

ue of Pycoaaly 1 957)



2

pai t p s ts his go to s as woh ss iapab of a ahi v

m t ad moa d spiab h poah s hims f vii s hims f

ad

xp s o b ast ot ad pish d . H abas s hims f

b fo

v o ad ommis at s with his ow ativ s o b ig o t d

with ao so woth

8

To aot fo this diff i s f ga d dist igish s b tw

moigs osios ss of oss ad th kow ad osios

dim sio of ob t oss i m ahoia Som thig abot th m aho

is oss mais osios v wh h m ahoi kows

h

ost h do s ot kow

w

h has ost i what his oss osists fo him

Ps

hoaasis add ss s this osios m t o m ahoi oss

d a pts th m ahoi sb ts s asaio th sbj t

a is w ak disho st p tt goisti . Y t h ot s that most o s

wih o asoab h ath os s dot akow dg th s imita

tios. W ata a at pais to hid th s w ak ss s om os v s

a oth s Th aa o th m aho is s fd siptio h

is t at iss . t s basia o t ad d a pts it: H [th sb t]

has os his s f sp t ad h mst hav good aso o his Th

a q stio is wh th sb has os his s f sp t what th good

aso o this oss is.

sw ig d ot s how i m ahoia a itia ag spits off

fom th go a voi of osi that itiiz s th poo go o a its

moa faiigs. H xpais that iia xp i v as th

_

a th sp i

itiisms th m ahoi v s agaist hims f o spod most

o to h m aho i sbj t b to o whom th sbj ov s o

shod ov : th s f poah s a poah s agaist a ov d ob t

whih hav b shi d awa fom it o to th pati ts ow go. What

h pati t s ms to b saig abo hims is a abot som o s

Th m aho i sb t ths is o who has aissistia id ti d

hims f wih ad atah d hims f to som o s his ov d obj t ow

ost Rath tha akow dgig th oss aissisti id tiatio

pot ts th sb t fom it bigig th obj t io th sb ad

abig him to k p it as pat of hims f This id tiatio is faght

isofa as th is mh abot th ov d o t that th sb t do s ot

ov that th sb t hat s. To d a wih his avowab hat d a sp ia

8 Id.

45.

19 Id.

46.

0 d.

.

47.

DI DEN



MMNIS ESIRE 83

a

g nc o h go i o o judg and cond mn h ov d obj c now

a o h ubj c him ud xan: n hi wa an obj c o wa

anom d ino an goo and h conic b w n h go and h

o

v d

on ino a c avag b w n h ciica acivi o h go

and

h

go

a

a d b id n icaion h anw o h qu ion o h

ub

j c'

o o p c un on h obj c i i h in nai d obj c

ho i judg d ciici d and cond mn d no h ubj c a a un o

hi

poin

b ow.

own u ud accoun o m anchoia o und and h a

and anxi v ning h om viing i anachonic habi o

hough Sh highigh h i nc o m anchoic aachm n o a

o

obj c a p nc ha in u ding conciou d i o cov

o mov on nd m anchoia a ucu o d i ah han a an

i n on Sh ao mphai h unconciou unavow d and

unavowab nau o m anchoic o nd h no h hi o h

oach o h ov d obj c' ono h ubj c a hi ha v

h ov o id aiaion o h obj c v n a h o o hi ov i xp

nc d in h u ing o h m anchoi c R couning om o h man

o on h - o oca and in naiona communi o a moa and

oiica viion caab o uaining oiica wok o a hioica mom n

own ak wh h h migh ao b a i unconciou unavow

o nam o h omi ha anai and commim n woud

u

i adh n a c a and c ain pah owad h good h igh

and

h u ' Sh ugg ha hi omi om d h bai o

ov and ow ing So ong a i main oundaiona unavow d

and unanom d i wi doom h o d ucion

ud' ud o m anchoia nab Bown o bing o igh h dia

vow d aachm n und ing h c d ba ov oucuaim

and h au o h ubj c chaac iic o a aicua mod o

h o Sh ak: Wha do w ha ha w migh

v h id aia

ion o ha omanic omi ? Wha do w unih ha w migh av

h od guaan o h om ou wahu diaoinm n? 3 h

anw h ugg i ha ha d and punihm n a mom k

w wag uon ou v o a o p v h pomi and guaan o

anai i Scon o id ni oiic and diaag m n o

dicou anai omod nim and nd i a h o i h

1 d

48

Bro R sisg L t lachly

0, .

3 d.

.



84

dspac d om o acsssc aachm o Maxs ohodox s a

aack am d a a o d obj c h lov ad los obj c ha pom

s d u c a ca ad pocal l vac

b o Bow's dscusso s s l lumao o a c a aas

d s l m lachol a xacs hsoca xp c s o dvso

co sao ad b aa om h Maxs ado h o a socal

s sa s pacc h plac av s a vcbl d gu o

h Mas o ha s s spl b w s auhoav ad s obsc

acm s. Wh l ss suck h alu blam hs au o

possucuals h o ad d polcs Bow sugg ss h dsa

vow h o xs c o such a Mas gg o a mpossb

aasc Maxsm ha v xs d h po c h ms lv s om

coog h loss o s hsoca m - h d o h s qu c b g

g 9 7 o p haps 79 Th sh d h ms lv s om h passg

awa o a m wh mad s s o hk ms o h d msm o

capal ad h pmac o cass

s Bow gh? Havg dagos d l mmob ad s loahg as

m acholc do s sh co cl d wha was os ad wha s

a d wha s dspac d ad wha s dsavow d? d do s h accou

o m lachoa as a sucu o d s xhaus h po al o h mov

o ud o mgh addoa m s o hs aalss also pov h pul

o comg o gps wh h ad h oc o oss?

B jams ow accou o wg m acho sugg ss a loss o a

d so ha Bow's - h b aa o vouoa d as o h

pol aa. H cc s Ks ad oh w obj cvss o o o

clgg o a om mak d b h d pco o h bual s o v a

l bu o commodg hs om o packagg up h ac s o sp

ua goods as so much comm cal co o b mak d ad sod o h

boug os . s B jam agu s Th uho as Poduc ' how v

voluoa h poca d c assoca d wh h w obj cv

ma app a has a cou voluoa uco so og as h w

ls hs soda wh h pol aa ol hs aud s o as a

poduc '. ach d o a d ologca xp c o soda h l

m acholc dsavows hs pacc h pacca c o hs jouasc

acv s. Wha Bow cosu s as a a oss o socals d as o whch

h l comp sa s hough a

obsa ad acsssc aachm

B jam p s s as compoms ad b aa a compoms ad

4 B 'T Ato oduc

77.

DI DEN



C MMNIS ESIRE 85

b aa ha d oogca d caon wh h po aa a ms o

dspac Bown sugg ss a d a d ad abandon d n h wak o

hsoca chang s B njam com s us o consd a ha gav

so

d

ou

F ud

s g su o h m achocs oss o s sp c pons n a sm

a d co To b su h s o xpc h Hs dscusson som wha

vad s

h ason o h oss o s s c o whch sad woud

un) Non h ss h xam h ak s om h

cc hns a wh

h subj c os s s s c D scbng a woman who oud p s h

husband o b g d o such an ncapab w F ud obs v s ha sh

s a accusg h husband o ncapac. H s oach s som o

whch a g un a aow d o obud h ms v s sc h h p o

mask h oh s ad mak cognon o h u sa o aas mpos

sb

Th s oach s F ud w s d v om h pos ad cos o

h conc o ov ha has d o h oss o ov ' 5 gh o b h

cas

h n ha h woman s qu gh cogzng h ow ncapac

n dg a caab husband o capab o susang h d s ? igh

sh no b pushng h s o compomsg o makg du o aow

g h os and cons o h coc o ov o consan h d s as sh

acqu sc s o a a o acc panc and mod aon o whch h s ms

o b no a av ? h answ o h s qu sos s s' h n h

woman'

s oss o s sp c s an ndcao o h gu sh s a havng

c d d h d s To us h ms gv o us b aca h on hng

o

ca b gu o s gvg gound av o o s d s Th

womans d ncao wh h husbad s a comoms b m ans o

whch

sh subma s h d s so as o ak hm h obj c o . Th

oc o h sup go and h u g punshm n o whch

subj cs h ndca ha sh has gv u o h mpossb o d s

d s s ow consuv dssasacon o accommoda h s o v

da

F ud o s h d gh h sup go ak s m n, as w as h

ac ha h subj c jos

h ov o h obj c - a ov whch cano b gv up hough h

obj c s s gv n up ak s ug n nacsssc d cao h

h ha com s o op aon on hs subsuv obj c abusg

25

F ud 'oug ad lachola

27.

26 Jacu Laca t. fy n ly T Smn u n B

V

ed. acu

a il a. Po ( Yok: oo 1997)

.

3 2 1 .



86 DI DEN

d bag

makg uff ad d vg ad afao fom

uff g Th fom g m ahoa whh whou doub

joyab g ju k h o podg ph om o ob

oa uo a afao of d of adm ad ha whh a

o a obj ad whh hav b u d oud upo h ubj ow

f . . .

H aay h u h moo of h dv ou

ad Th Vud ' ha ay F ud ay ha h dv ud go

h foowg vud v a o h oppo ug oud

upo h ubj ow f p o ad ubma o 8 aa

mak a wha ua h F uda aou of h dv h

way dv povd h ubj wh aoh way o joy Th joy

joun

ha d ao aa dv ao avod. Uabl o

afy o maa d h ubj joy aoh way h way

of h dv .

f

d alway a d o d a d ha a v b d a

d fo

joun

o joym ha a v b aa d dv fu

o a a way o joy hough fau I dv o do o hav o

ah h goa o joy. Th av o ud ak o ah v a goa

b om ag o h ow. B au h y povd a kk of

joym h y om h m v o ak h pa of h goa. ahg

o h po joym apu h ubj .

Fuh a Savoj

Z

k agu h hf fom d o dv ff

a hag h au of h obj Wh a h obj of d og

a y o whh m g a o dv o f a obj .

oh wod dv o a qu fo a o obj h am of

o o h fo o x o h d of d Dv do o ua

aoud a pa ha wa o oup d by a d a mpob obj .

Rah dv h ub mao of d a u bak o f h

ug h by podug h oop of dv ad povdg ow

p a hag .

mpha o h dv dm o of m ahoa o F ud a

o o h way adm m ahoa u d oud upo h ubj

ow f' ad o a p ao of h g a oou hapg h

7 Feud, 'Mournng and Melanhoa

.

50

8 Sigund eud, nstints and Their Viissiudes, S nd rd i 4 e Cmpe Plgi l

WrkfSmund Fud Vlume X

6

9 Slavo

Z

iek, n De f C (London Verso, 008)

.

38



MMNS ESRE 87

e ha dies o Bows. sead o a e aached o a uacowl

edged

ohodo we have oe ha has give way o he desie o

couis beayed s hsorca coie o he poleaia ad

sub

aed

evouioay eegies io esoaois pacices ha

se

ghe he hold o capiais This e has eplaced coies o

he eacipao egaiaia sugges o wokig peope agais capia

s

coies ha wee eve u ly ohodox bu aways upued

co

ced ad coesed wh icessa acivi (o uke he aia

Feud

also associaes wih elachoia) ad so

ow saises ise wih

cicis

ad ierpeaio sal poecs ad oca acios paicua

ssues ad egisave vicories ar echoo pocedues ad pocess

subiaes evouioa dese o deocaic drive o he epeious

pac

ices oeed up as deocacy (whehe epeseaive delibeaive

o adica). Havig aeady coceded o he ieviably o capiais i

oiceaby abados ay sikig powe agais he big bougeoise o

eur o

Bea's laguage Fo such a e eoye coes ro is

wihdawa o resposibii s subiaio o goas ad esposibili

ies o he bachig ageed pacices

o icopoiics secae

ad issue awaeess. Pepeualy sighed hared ad udoe hs e

eas suck i repeiio uabe o beak ou o he circuis o dive i

whch i is caugh - uabe because i eoys

gh his o expai why such a le couses discipie wih doia

io why i oeis colecivi i he ae o a iuso idividuais

eedo ha coiuousy seeks o age ad disup ay asseio o

a

co ecive o a coo? The wachwods o criique wh his suc

ue

o e desie ae oais dogais auhoiaiais ad

uopiais - wachwods eacig a pepeua selsuveillace has a

ague posiio o view iadveey

rk

oe o hese eos? ve

soe o is ilas eec pa ad sae divisio ad decisio secuig

i advace a iecacy sue o guaaee i he ugges o saisacio

dive povides.

•

his e is ighly descibed as eacholic ad agee wih Bow

ha is he s elacho ia deives o he ea exisg copoises

ad b

ayas iexicabe ro is hso is accoodaios wih

eali whehe o aioalis wa capiais ecicee o socaed

ake deads aca eaches ha ike Kas caegoical ipeaive

he supeego reuses o accep eai as a expaaio o aiue.

possibe is o excuse desie is always possble o sais. A wide

specu o he coepoa le has eihe accoodaed isel i oe



�

a

o aohe o a evabe caasm o ake he acca aues

o Maxsmesm o eque he abadome o aagosm cass

ad evouoa commme o oveug caas aagemes o

oe ad oduco Meachoc aas (he commus Mase

auhoaa ad obscee) as we as submaed meachoc acces

(hee was o aeave) shed hs

e shed

om cooao

wh gu ove such beaa as he caue us acves ha ee

oducve moa adca

Pehas shoud use he as ese hee ad sa she ded because

ow seems moe ad moe ha he e has woked o s wokg hough

s meachoa Whe ackowedgg he comeeess o schoaa

sss udesag o meachoa eud oes oeheess ha he

ucoscous wok o meachoa comes o a ed:

us as moug mes he ego o gve u he obec b decag he

obec o be dead ad oeg he ego he duceme o coug o

ve so does each sge sugge o ambvaece oose he xao o

he bdo o he obec b dsaagg degag ad eve as

wee kg s ossbe o he ocess he ucoscous] o

come o a ed ehe ae he u has se se o ae he objec

has bee abadoed as useess3

euds eeece o each sge sugge o ambvaece' suggess ha

he eeve acves have assocaed wh dve ad submao

mgh be udesood moe daecca ha s o mee as he om o

accommodao bu aso as subsave acces o ds ad eaach

me umakg ad makg. Togehe wh ade Doa

Z

ek aso

emhaszes hs desucve dmeso o he dve he wa s ee

s

esu

a ceag awa o he od so as o make a sace o he ew.3

a seg maked b a geea acceace o he ed o commusm

ad o acua ocaheoeca usus ehcs aec cu ue ad

ooo ma ow be ess accuae o descbe he e ems o a

meachoc sucue o dese ha o o o he agmeao o eve

oexsece o a e as such Bows essa mgh he be hought o as

a mome ad cobuo o he wokg hough ad dsmag o

e meachoa s ace hee ae mue acces ad aes

whch ccuae wh he age academcheoeca eese ha has

0 Feud, Mourning and Melanolia,

.

55.

Made Dola, Feud and he Poltia, e n n 2 (009



C MMUNIST ESIR

89

s a ad b

subsum d wh commucav caasm

Som o

h wachwods o adogmasm ma bu h chag s dmsh d,

ac d b mo g c aachm o w obj cs o qu ad

s. Th dv shag m acho a oh wods s a oc o oss

as

us oud, agm s, ad bach s. Ov m as s oc ss s

a

u

o h s goa - s a d, sasaco aas o hs

o

a

d

h

o obj c, h os obj c o d s , s abado d us ss So

o

xam

som h oss oda d h aac ca go o h subj c

h o cal u sg ss a us ss h hav u d s ad

o obj cs, dg h m w kds o ag c, c av, va, ad

v

n

p

o

li

t i

c

s

.

Th c acvao o commusm aso b as w ss o h d o

m lachoa as a sucu o d s . D scbg h massv ouou

g o husasm o h 2009 odo co c o h d a o

commusm osas Douzas ad Savoj

Z

k o ha v h qu s

o ad asw s ssos w goodhumou d ad os caa a

cl a dcao ha h od o gu s ov 3 Smal, hs ow

cobuo o h commus u, Buo Bos ls goss s h d a o

h commus hozo as vok d b

vao Gaa L a. coas

o m acho as s absoo h commus hozo cs a

com

sh s cv o a adca d oogca uabou as a

sul o whch caasm o og a as as h o gam ow ad

w

o og hav o b asham d o s ou x cg ad d sg s

o a d ogazao o soca aoshs .33

s

ossb o ud sad hs acvao o commusm ms o

d s , ad so wha s s ? hk ha s h x s co o

a

ovsoa sk ch o wha such a commus d s mgh ook k

hav wo h s s: s commus d s d sga s h subj ccao o

h ga c ssa o o cs, h dvso wh h o s cod, hs

subj ccao s col cv ou d s ad ou co cv d s o us.

Th co moa hkg o commusm ovd s a l as wo ahs

owads a coc o commus d s : h d s o h muud ad

h d s o h h losoh . Th s com s om oo N gs

3 Costas ouznas and Savo

Z

iek, eds, ' n trodcton da o Counis, in onas

and

Z

iek,

T mmunm

(London Veso, 0 10)

x

33 Bruno Bostees, T Atu y mmun (Londo: Verso, 0 )

8





C MMNS DSIR

9 1

pouo i h p s Baou posios wihi h o h

philosophia i a

N g a Baiou a assuig Fo hos omm o gaaia

uiv sasm a uwl ig o aommoa h ms lv s o h as omi

a

apalis aism h sash pa s o sa s s om whh o

hk a a a u sa hkg a aig s ommuism soial

ism h wokg ass a h soal w la sa hav a vil

a smal oh as uopa i as a as poswa ompoms hs

assua

has ss ial o h mai a o ouag o

a v kowl g o voluioa h o a pa . h sam

im as Bows isusso h ghghs suh assua a a som

im s

o s om a oj o ishis aahm pov s a

guaa as i h m o guaa s ha o pass som hig o hol

o o a s ig o as a s ig wh

oss is l op a s as a o

Th assug pomis om N gi s ha ommuism has al a

av

i s o o as om is apas osas Rah

ha a poia oomi ss m upu b vsio a aagoism

o wh h s s a av s o pou s o wh h ms lv s

a wih ah oh h si o h mu iu app as as a a a

giv ov g abua a whol ss shi g us om oo

aio wih h gap wihi a b w us. Th assua om Baiou

s o o ha h a uhs u ha h s uhs a om m o m

opoa i h wo Th imp poms s hus ha h polia

uh

o h i a o ommuism wll aga b opoa i w subj s

Rah ha a ovo og h vsios o am b a pa

a a sa h si o h philosoph app as as a om o hough ha

ma gu o i h a iv aahm s o hos who o mpla i

Rah ha a upu o paa a h o ia kowl g a

wl hs s mai ss s l as a om ha s s a imp ss s is o

hso's vag llious suj iv s

Th s appoah s o ommuis s (paial i h uv

spos h av pov h ) u u asl agais h ga o h

las hi as o so o ial h o sp iall agais hos sas o

possuuais a posoloal h o o whh Bow g su s h

ssa Whl h usal o gv wa o si a wallow i m ahola

is val o h pow o h s appoah s som hig a o h l ss b

a om hos who ompoms Fis o al polial sugg s

9 S Bos ls Ba{{ and Polt

.

77



D DN

pese o as ae comms s as coa Race o all polca

sgges ae democac) Te ssmpo of al

gig

pocal sg

ges o e mlde eve he mlde s oe of sgaes)

dsavows e esos ad opposos amog hem as wel as he was

ha hese esos ae ad ca e maplaed e eess of capal

Te asopo of all

p

ola sgges o a coe chagg

ove he cose of mlea dscos he mpacs o po sggles o

lae

oes as wel as e maea ad echoogcal deemaos of

oces capaces ad eess4 Oe does o ave o emace he

hsocss app posvsm o age a e comms comao o

emacao ad egalaasm s qe. s fomed mlple

ohe sggles as Max aead makes cea dsgshg fo exam

ple ewee ogeos ad poleaa evolos ad as s aesed

oh weehce sgges fo cvl ad wome s ghs ad we

sce sgges fo ga ad as gs B s o he same as

ese sggles. Secod ad coseqel commsm s fomed s

ow ales ad msakes a fomg eessed eassg appeals

o a comms ee o vaace. 4 Ths s wh hee s a edeav

o o ehk commsm oda o eogae ad lea fom he pas

ode o saae somehg ee hs me Thee ae specc so

es ad sggles wose sccesses ad fales ca coe o se

a ca ma o ce a dese o look a o pese dffeel

o see lg of he comms hoo4

Wha ees s seved dsavowg kowedge of he dfeeces

amog sgges eeah e expase of a eeal comms ssace?

I

hee was a lef sce of dese appopael desood as mel

colc ad a sce o loge hods he some so of wok o

wokghog has ake place Sc a wok wod ave a ead caed

o qeso a ecompassg vsos o a commsm pessg apa

om ahe ha ogh cees o sggles ad e sgig sesses

he eave ehd a commsm seemgl capale of leag ad

adapao as wel as of a commsm g mle sggles ha

ael efse s ems3 Wheeas some mgh ea hs wok as

4

r y h r on b d p 78.

41 My

v w h r s nform d by conv rstons wth Jam s Mar as w ll s by hs comp l ng

gum nt n hs

ul C1p

Ann Arbor M: Unv rsty of Mchgn Pr ss 01 1 ), pp 1 479

4 S aso Bost lss ctca approach o 'concr t hsto d t hstocl k o man

cptory potcs n Bos s

u l 4 Cm

pp 783

43 tk th t rm sgnng str ss fom Erc Sntn r 'rcl s Hpp n n Slvo

Z

k Erc

Santn r and nn th R nhard T Nr: 1u 1 Pll Tlg (Chcago Unv rs



C MMNI EIR 93

av sg h aas o movg om h d s o h dv av

ag d ha h sbmao o h dv ca s sb c h

v ccs o commcav caasm44 Whas ? w sh d

d s o ha cog s mossb o achg o ach vg s

obj c ad hods o sg o c d .

Z

s s w d s o

Lacas oo o d s o h aas 4 Sc a d s s co cv

ssa

g a comm v as has mov d as h d o som d

o aasmc so. o cv b aod a ac ovd s a

commo d s caab o b ag ogh h s c os d cc o

dv who sa g a w ao o c a

Ev as h a comms d s as a d o gv N g ad

Bado aso cob o hs o g o comms d sr o

ha

wh Laca assoca s d s wh h cosv o o ac

D s d ds o a ga a q so a mssg ss ad a dcb

osasaco s v (ad coas o hs sa aroach o

d s ) N g w s comms magao s xa d mom o

.8 Bado oo ab d mhasz s h

o h v h oma od o bod s ad agag s as xss o

a

aca sao. Eac h b s commsm o a ga o a

b a (ahogh aga h d h h ozao o h m ad

ac o sc a ga) Bado x ss s w s a wg a m

a obsac a c a sbj cv om has awas ad o v

accoma d g a o a sgs o w h a cav ad

oaq ( v g w s oda aoasms ma asca o

Maos ad d magog s as d o a d sa o aam aasm)

b a wh b gsao o co db g whch

s h m c c

h s mhas s o soa w Rac s mass o h

o Chago Pe, 005) Boteel rite hat he o t ivariat ae te ork of the ae in

a broad ene There i a yet no pei la deterination to th@ logi of revol in hih lave

plebean, ef, peaat, or orke re up agant the poer that be Boeel B du d Pl,

p. 77 Further, in delineating thee bai fator of ideologial ontent, Boteel note the u

of the ounit pogra, that , te iedae popular ubane of al great revot, fro

Sparta to Mao M ritii o Badiou addree the ai o unhanged a arguing agait

the dea hat here an uaged and iediate popular ubtae to all grea revol There are

diferent kin d of revolt not al a or popa evolt have a ounit 'btae

See arte,

·u l C.p, fo an ovevie of hee debae

5 artel develop th dea via a reading of Poe etaphor of the aetro

6 Savoj

Z

iek, T Tk! Su (ondo: Vero, 1999), p 96

7 That i, ithout reverting o ha Matel theorize a idolatr

8 Neg, 'Coui, p 1 61

9

Badio, O

O D pp 6, 7-18



9

J DI DN

vso wh ocs b w pocs ad h oc .° o Rac

pocs s h clash o wo h og ous oc ss s h poc ss o h

poc ad h oc ss o qua H v ws h poc as a od o

bod s ha d s h aocao o was o dog was o b g ad

was o sag . . s a od o h vsbl ad h saab . H h

us s po cs' o d sga wha v b aks wh h agb cogua

o

wh b a s ad as o ack o h m a d d b a

p supposo ha b d o has o pac ha coguao -

ha o h a o hos who hav o a Pol cs scb s a gap

wh a xsg od o ap aac Th a o hos who hav o

pa s hs gap h xsg od o ap aac b ha od

ad oh possbl aag m s hs spac b w ad wh wods

Th paoopa do s o d sga a subs o sos a w ' o a

coc d ' ha ca b m cal dca d am s h gap

dvso o aagosm ha maks h od o a od g wh

s ow compo s Th acaa m o h aoopa woud

h b

obj p a,

a mpossb oma ob c poduc d as h xc ss o

a oc ss o ao a kd o gap ha c s o aos h mssg ss

o oqu gh ss ha cas ou o us s h ga h od

b w som hg smp p s ad som hg d s d h obj c

caus o d s o ug o h po ca d h ga b w a

pocz d p op ad a popuao o s o p sos

Rac o s ha oca sub ccao s s a sd cao

ad

gsao o a gap xplas ha h a olcal mod s

o

subj ccao ol h s o aoshps ha h

w

ad h

nm

maa wh h s o p sos" h coc pa o d s a

a s m ca d h d mosao ad h wods commo o

s paa wh h s a d d'. 3 So w hav a uu o a gap ad

sub ccao o hs ga Bu sub ccao wha s s ? Th

a vaous oczaos vaous mobzaos ad subj ccaos

ha ca ou o ad ogaz d covcos ad ss.

Th gap c ssa o o d s s ma s h On-onn

o commusm wh s s g h gap ha s wh ad pa o h

s g as Maxs h m s o gao ad h commus gac o

0

See

dicu in f Rancire i itic itut Pliic, 3 009

Jacque Rancie, Dimt an. Jule Re neapi Univer f inneta

Pre 004 pp. 930

Ibid., p. 36.

3 Ibid. p 9



MMNIST ESRE 95

voto

both afm. Commsm s of cos ot t ol otca

d oo that mob s gato ad voto - t a ad av b

b ad mocatc bog os votos. Mo ov commsm sha s

wt catasm a voltoa mobzato of gato h c comm

sm as th gato of t gato h dff c th was th

sbj ct t ga th s ccal. Catalst sbj ctcato th d s t

stct s ad ct s s dvda ( v as t t ds to sb mat d s

dv

o oth wods v as dvdat d d s s g t caght

ad gv wa to dv s ow f ttv ccts) . o v t thss

catasm t llat s sb cts as dvdas. commsm that do s

lk ws fas to ff ct a t o sta a ga Commst d s ca

o b col ctv a commo ato to a commo codto of dvso

Rac s co ctg of otca sb ctcato wth th ga b tw

w

ad th s t of sos ots ts d cto t d scb s a commo

ato to a commo codto of dvso tat s sb ct d as th w

of

a co ctv sbj ct. N g d ct ad xlct mas s

colc v

d s .

Bado hs wtg o th d ath of commsm vok s a

col ctv sb ct ab t o that at th tm of th co las of th Sov t

astat has b o atv fo mo tha tw as. Bado

obs v s that t was th has w commsts" a oma cso

add d

to w voltoa s" whch t gav oltca ad sb ctv

foc to ts w " cost d as a tmat f c t w " of th

cass th w " o taas whch was v atcat d bt whch v

d a comm ost d as ts soc as a hstoca axom. O oth

wods w fathf to th v t of Octob 19 1 7' Bado t s s that

sch a s s of w fom d hs ado sc t d stadg of Sat s

has v atcommst s a dog b cas h xas v

atcommst

th b maf st d hs hat d towads t w " hs

d t mato to xst so l wth th m ts of th oss sso of hms lf

wch s awas th oss sso of som o t o goods.5 cost

ttv como t of th commst sbj ctcato of th ga b tw

what xsts ad wat cod b b tw wokg ad catast cass s

b w voltoa s fathf to Octob 9 1 7 ad oth oltca

sb ctcatos s th oosto b tw a coll ctv w ' ad a d

vda d t m d ad b hs sga s lfoss sso h commst

sb ct s ot a s mbl o ass mbag of dvdals bt a foc

oos d to sch a dvdasm ad ts attachm ts. Bado qa s

5

Badou Of ObJD Jt .



96 J DI Dr

hs vi w oa v as h sss ha v uh poc u p scib s

a Subj c o hs uh, a Sub c who v pica - cao b

uc o a ivua, h o h ss h ghghs h subj c£cao o

vuas Wha s a ssu s h possbi i o a iivua,

as a hua aa a c a sc o a Subj c o c o

b co a o a poca uh poc u h iiviua ci s

Baiou cosu s his ciso o h ivua as a icopoao o

h boouh h ivua a iaz s uh i h wo h o

sh s v s as h s o h sh sis o oics, i oo a hiso:

w sa ha a a is h possibii o a iviua o u

sa ha hs o h paicipao i a sgua oiica oc ss (his o

h o a boouh) s aso, a c ai wa a h ri

ciso D scbig a cov so ak sia o h Chsa s

acipao h Ho S, Baiou aias:

his

is h o wh a iiviua ca s ha h o sh ca go

b o h bous (o s sh ss, cop io, u ) s b

iivuais (o aiai - h o a h sa hg) H o

sh ca o so o h x ha, whi aig h vua ha h

o sh s, h o sh ca aso b co , hough copoaio, a aciv

pa o a w Subj c ca hs ciso, his w a sub cvaio

Mo g a sp akig a subj cvao is awas h poc ss

wh b a iivua s h ac o a uh wh sp c o

hs o h ow via xs c a o h wo which his xis c

s iv ou

soa as Baou agu s ha cous ca o og qua a oi

cs o ucio as a aj civ o a pa o a sa , ak s s s ha

h has o aoh ocus o couss icopoao ha s, o

a op aio capab o co cig uh o hso Lik ws soa as

ou co poa s g is o o wh h so o h hsoca

sso

o h iusa wokg cass o ush couis as

cop g, h qu sio o h subj c o cous ais op a

ssig Y Baou's choic o h viua as h ocus o such a

subj c ac s h c ha a s cous si s a

has o b co civ h coo aco a wi o hos who hav u

go a c ai po aazao o suo o hos who qush

3

6

Badiou The dea of Communim,

-3.



MMNI DER

97

h

aachm n o an magna indivdua. f communsm m ans

an

hing a a i m ans co civ acion d minaion and w

Und condions of caaisms cu of ndvduaism o mhasiz

acs

of individua d cision and wi duc s communism o on among an

numb of ossib choc s Such an mphass h r b ass ns o caa

s form r nd ing communism as

jus anoh con n an obj c of

ndvidua d sr ah r han h d si of a co cv subj c n Badious

v sion h ndividua s aciv pacaon n a n w subj c do s no v n

r ur

an radica chang on h ar of h ndivdua h or sh can

r man

h individua ha h o sh s Wha g s os s h common ha

giv s communism is foc h oss ha div s caaism. ommunsm is

subordinad

o an individuas d cision for i. D si mains ndividual

no communis; nohing ha ns o is basic sucu . n ff c d sr is

subima d whin h arg cicuis of div whch r ua off r

dff r n obj cs dff n nugg s o njo diff r n oouni s o g

off on fau ion and h imm da mov m n fom on hing o

anoh . Soca conomic and oiica cond ons ma w conribu o

a s ing wh in h choic for communsm b com s mo com ng o

mo individuas bu h consiuion of h s individuas as som hng

mo as a w has fal n ou of h icu .

hough ou oiica pob m diff s in a fundam na wa fm ha

of communiss a h b gnning of h ni h c nu w hav o

organz ndviduals h had o oganz mass s - G org ukcss

insgh no ndividua sm as a ba r o h formaon of co cv w s

cucia o h h orizng of communis d sir as co cv d sr . ukcs

no s ha h fr dom of hos of us brough u und caaism s h

f dom of h ndvidua isoa d b h fac o op a fr dom ov

and agains oh isoa d individuas a f dom of h gos of h man

who cus hims f off fom oh s a f dom fo which soidari and

communi xis a b s onl as n ff cua guav id as

rgu s ha h

on

d sir for h am of dom can on m an

conscous akng h s s ha w r a ad o n a s ng of cap

asm 's disacions and comusions on ma v w f i

som hng s wong som hng is mssing som hing s d unfa

Th n on mgh comica his d a or con xuaz i o fog abou i

and ch ck mai O on migh o mak a diff nc signing i

ions bogging voing doing on s own a as an individua. nd h is

7 G og us,

Htoy a Ca. Co.iou.

tas . Rodn y ivingston Cambidg ,

NA

N\T

ss, 98

p

3 .



98

J D DAN

ob m: o co o k ad ac dvdacay. Ud

capa codo comm d a cao o d

vda dom d b a ad acca bodao o ad

o a co cv comm w T bodao q dc

wok ad ogaao a oc ca d o ov m ad og

co cv gg . d d acv co cv gg a cag

ad a d om dvda (ad o kc bog o ad

d) om o a commo co cv o .

T mo ow d ad comp g acco o o o voo

ay gg cog comm d - a omg

dvda o a co cv o - o co com om .

coay o ggg g ag d v og

ogg T ov ow o od oc cao occ wo

oog d o ad adwo x c 8

Wng Co

p a dam a aw o voo: oy w

Lowr L o no wn

o v od way ad p ca

nno rry on n o wy

a voo ca m . T ow

ca av o wa a comm way y a o ov ow ca

am ad b g ab g a comm oc y av o d a

comm . Wo co cv comm d vooay

ava mov co vooay d co w : A

bog o dv o y by oo o caam a oca

om o wc k aacm caac c o a capa

co T ab o c voom ba ad

d cy o apdy o bm o aay aam ad v

a d aao w o bog o ad o ao a

commo kow dg . Sbmo apay ad d aao

gg a o co cv w a a k

cov o a ma a a od g a o a comm d o

w coag ad wo c a codo w a away

o v a ady makg.

ovoa k c o a oy o comm d av

ma d ack ( op o d ) ad bj ccao. av

ag d a comm d co cv bj ccao o a

dcb ga omm d am co cv amo o

dvo o aagom cov o oca. o cv

8 I . enin eftWing" mu ism Ifantile isorder n Robert C Tuer ed.

T

nn An (Ne Yor Norton, 97 4.

9 bid.

60, 9.



C MMNIST ESIRE

99

om o d s wo s s s ou d s ad

ouri r

o commus

d s s h co cv d s o co cv d sg

Sascal d ovd s a co moa gu o such a d s

s

m o d

Badou lks h commus vaas o g a oua

usgs uu wh cou d b g s h us s h co x

o

hs dscusso o h d ah o commusm h d a o cou d b g

ala s wh a ag cqu o h sa ad o aw mo acu

la wh h wok o sa ad aw od g a suao ad

d m g s acs a som wha mo l a ccsm o coug as

a mod o co moa sa ow Rac cc s ol g as a

d g o h o as d ca o h sum o s as ' as ohg

bu s d mogahc como s Rah ha ag wh Badou ad

Rac hk ha s m o cosd vd c suo o a

cou h ss am l ha ou cu cojucu a cou ca

ovd a om o x ssg co c v v o uug h v

s g whch as s.

O o h sogas o m g wh acula ow ou o h mov

m o Occu Wall S s: W a h 99 c . s ad o amg

a

d h umb hghghs a dvso ad a ga h ga b w

h w ah o h o 1 c ad h s o us. s mob s h ga

b w h c owg hal h cous w ah ad h oh 99

c o h ouao h sloga ass s a co cv ad a commo.

do s o u hs col l cv ud a subsaa d - ac

hc aoal Rah ass s as h w o a dvd d o

h o dvd d b w xoaos ad xoa d h s g

o a occu d Wa S hs w s a class o o wo oos d ad

hosl class s: hos who hav ad coo h commo w alh ad hos

who

do o. oh wods h aouc m ha W a h 99

c am s a aoao a wog. h b also voc s a co l cv

d s o qua ad jusc o a chag h codos hough

whch 1 c s h bulk o wha s commo o h ms v s l avg

99 c wh h mad

addo W a h 99 c as s h mulc o dvdu

a d aa ad dvd d ss ha agm ad w ak h o .

Th cou dsdvdual s s ad d s omag boh wh

a commo gas caals cosa a ms o ulv ad d com

os h co cv o h cam o h 99 c sods wh h

60 Ranc , Dgm,

05



I 00 J DI D

o o a ogig o o ha ao as d ha aas ow

m hods o aouig odu :

h mgph n J i n

y nJh J i mhJ piJ Ji iJ h n ing n

w/ih i pnJ prJ nw bngingI

Caia has o m asu s

o is os s a o o is sha o o s aa o v

ag

is o s od o ax s aa o uu o

Caa ous ad aaz s who has wha s ig o is h

m as s o s s ss Th s v m s a - ad h soga

W a h 99 ' h a - u o s Th a o sg d

h a aim d as h su ao o h ga s aag h o 1

om h s o s Wih his aim h ga om s a v h o h

x sso o ommuis d si - ha s o a ois ha ass s h

o as a dvsv o h i s o ov ig s soi

ad makg a w o aho d o vi ad h ommo.

a os gag m wih Cah i Maaos dsuss o o s v

ai u s

Z

k dsss s h og o da a asios: a

gaio/a aio/oss h su us o s hs s is

o

h sam as h ssa ha ud w h ai ao i s os

d h v mov m o ug o is Zi k oud s

h

b

j

as suh

h Jrir i wn h

a sh whh mais a i s

d v d o s susa Po aazao is a am o h o ss o

h s d vaio d aia Th d vao o susa ommo

soa susa - av s o vi as s sh as h om ha mas

o ommus d si

Ths o iv om ov as wih h oj aus o omms d si

- h o ud sood as h aooa s agu aov h

aooa am s h ga o aagosm ha maks h oid i

o

a od ig wh is ow omo s. a hs d siga d wh

aas

bj p i

a imossi oma o odu d as h x ss o

a o ss a missg ss o o ss ha a s ou o s.

Z

i k o s ha

o aa h o o d si awas mas a a dsa om h

suj o ma how os h su g s o h oj h oj

mas usv . Th dsio w oj ad o aus

aous o his d h is a ga aus h oj aus s o

h sam as a od oj o whih aah s Th oj aus is wha

mak s a oj d sia o a o h g h o O

migh hk ha h oj o omms d s woud a wod whou

1 Slav

Z

iek,

L

t

E (

Vers

1 1

bid, . .



C MMNIST ESIR 1 0 1

expoao a word characered equa jusce reedom ad he

asece

o oppresso a word where produco s commo dsruo

s ased o eed ad decsos reae he geera w Oce oe sars o

descre

h s perec word hough awas comes up ackg Somehg

s awas mssg Wha aou a ed o sexsm racsm ad egosm?

Wha

aou a ed o soca herarches? Wha aou regous reedom

ad he oera? Wha aou meaess ad

ug? s o srprse

ha

commusms crcs (a eas as ear as rsoe

T

i )

cr

ce commusm as uopa ad mposse seems aoher word or

per

ec. Bu he mposse o commus desre s o he same as s

cause. The ojeccause o commus desre s he peope ad aga he

peope

o as a ame or he soca whoe u as a ame or he expoed

producg major

or a goverme ssem orgaao or moveme he peope

rema eusve compae wh ad dsrupve o wha aemps o

reduce cosra or represe uhorarasm ogarch arsoc

rac represeave democrac paramea democrac oe o hese

orms worres oo much aou he dscoec ewee goverme ad

peope. Bu he dscoec he gap maers or commusm (ad or

ascsm cdea whch deas wh he gap essea g he peope

va

ood so ad he Leader ad aempg o exerae ad em

ae he remag ad uavodae aagosm) parcuar ecause

commusm s o o a assocao or goverace u aso a orga

ao o produco 3 The peope are eusve The exceed her smoc

saao as we as he mages ad aases ha r o he gap

Commus desre - a coecve desre o desre commusm - occupes

ad moes hs gap recogg s opeess (ha s he mposs

o he peope) ad reag as he moveme o commusm se -

he words o Marx ad Eges

(T1 Grmn ogy)

We ca commu

sm

he

L

moveme whch aoshes he prese sae o hgs 4

have aemped o se ou a dea o commus desre he space

marked he ed o a cera e meacho ad a aeave o

he wa o he drve. Whereas some have vewed drves sumao as

he wa eod a desre cogured erms o aw ad s rasgresso

have skeched a d ere oo o desre oe ha va co ecv

63 lbeto Tocano ake th poit with particular power i The Polit i o btraction in

Douzina an

Z

iek, ofCommuim p. 202

64 Boteel note the urrent ubiqui of thi paage in

T Aualy Com,

p. 9



I 2 D DN

b aks om dv s ttv ccuts. st ad o ta d au

g ttg

o o ad ag to ach th goa commust d s subj ct s

ts ow mossb ts costtutv ack ad o ss. Such subj ct

cato s xtcab om co ctv stugg om th mact o chag s

ov tm that ab what am s Mat cas th cogto o ms c

ogto - tha s th ackow dg m t o as stats ad os o

atasy costuctos ad myths o com t ss ad vtab

P cs y b caus such stugg s c ssay co ctv t og s a

commo d s out o dvuat d o s acg vdua w ak ss

wth co ctv st gth

6 Martel u l Cp·



6

From Scentc Socalsm to Socalst Scence:

Naturdiaektik Then and Now

Adia Johsto

Havad Unvess Maxs boogss hads evns and ewonn

dedae he 19 book

D aL Bog

To edek nges, who

go

wong a o of he me b who go gh whee oned n he

ngsh, enh and emanspeakng wods of he Wesen Maxsms

of he md-weneh en p hogh he pesen, he vewpon

expessed n hs dedaon s an nfashonabe a The nges aknow

edged

by evns and ewonn - hs s he aho speay of he o

D of Na u An Drng

and

uw Furba/ an u o

o

CaL Gran opy

a we who eey advoaes a daea

exenson of hsoa maeasm no he jsdons of he naa

senes - s he obje of ehe oa nege o busqe dsmssas whn

sh snena movemens as he ankf Shoo and

hsseansm Howeve, n he esa o ea hs nges as he

deades dead dog of hem a hese wo es senss mpy ge a

ese opeaon n he onempoa onjne esembng he one

Max ams o pefom on behaf of Hege.3 Tha s o say, he gese

aed o hee s one of savng he aona kene' oaed a he hea o

ngesan

Na urL

(hogh he exa phase daea maea

sm

s no oned n 7, by boh oseph Dezgen4 and Ka Kasky,

wod manan ha he new maeas

an

auzg

of Max and

Rihard Levi ad Richard Leoi Di lcl Bioloq, (Cabridge, MA: Harvard

Uiveri Pre 98) p v

Adia Joho ' Repeaig gel Reeig e ue of he Maeriali Wage fo he

TeFir Thory @ Blo (20 ) pp 42.

3 arl Mar C i l A Cri of Pol l oomy Volum ra Be Foke (Ne York:

Pegu Book, 976), p 03

4 Joeph Diezge J 4 Soi liJ o h Dom i of imolqy ra Ma Beer ad

Theodor Rohei ( 887), available a ariorg

a auky

drick gJ: ; Lif ; rk d H iiq

a May Wood Sio

( 887/88) available a ariog



1 04 RIN HNS N

Eg s as b gs o b aboa d a ad Maxs

onom n

oJopnuJrptJ

s do o jsc b b g ab d s.)

T oso s k o occp vov s a sa o coos b w

d q soab b qa pob mac opos: o

H g asm o a G og Lkcs ad mos o posLkcsa

W s Maxsm, w s oKaa dasm b w a ad

so ad co sodg wa av so o aa sc c s wo

oH g asm o Los ss ad s oow s, w s o

Sozs omasm ag os o bo socsm ad

mca, x m a sc c s ad , aH g asm o

Lco Co w s Kaa s doma asm. Bas d o m

adg o sw o H g 's oso c d o ss s

a d o Nturpop

so o s s a H g s s o b

a om ca goca opos d o asm o ma asm8 - j c

a av s owad b Lkcs, ss , Co , ad os o

sma mds , opg s ad o a Eg sa L s sac S cca

am a Maxs avo o a ma as da ccs o a posv

om d b c soc s o s o b od H g s kg as

w as aa sc c s ms v s. How v ms ap d o s

a cca cav a: b coas w ov dg mass o mag o

a ogac wo coss g o mad co cos b w a gs

(s mass cs ogo woks o Eg s, D zg , ad

ma Sov ad Bs Maxss o s a o w c

s d ks b w da cca ma asm ad s

c s),

m oEg sa asc d a ma asm sss o mpoac

o a co baacg mass o dscocg gas ad ss

H g a da ccs avods o sd d ss b ssg a co

awas cosss o bo co ad dsco (o mod a soga

sa d b Sc g ad H g ) , ma a of Eg sa

NtuLk k

s s avg a d o a ov o vao o co

ov dsco Tasc d a ma asm s a ccao o

s

osd d ss o cassca da cca ma asm

6 Adi Johto,

Proegomna Any Futur /ateiln, Voum 'o: A �ak Natu Aon

Eto: Noth Ui rity , 03 [forhcoig).

bi.

8 Adi Johto, 'L

ibk r: Suc i ubj H go lozoi [tr. E

Str,

16em

o. 3, o. 3, 0 , pp. -; Adri ohto, 'Th Voidg of W Nur :

Th r d l Mt rit of g l Naturpbo.•ophe Prt O Gduat acuty

hoopy Joua 0 d r r w Ad ohto, h Voidig of W a Ntur : Th

Trc ril i of H g l Natupboop - Prt Two , Guat Faut howphy

ou a

Vol. 33, o. Sprig 0 , pp 03-7



R M

CENFIC CALIM T CALIT CENCETEN AN N W

OS

h al g m o a ook 97

T1or on n

a Badou

ma ak g o ak o ov mphazg u a h co o

co

podg ud mphazg du (a aagom coc

c.)

Bag h m ag o Mao 97 a O Coaco

h

ao c d w h a ad co cg h xc v g a

a o ad avoug o ogac (w)hom

h oug Badou

k o o o aac o da ccal ma am u o h

u v h oppo d co a g h pmac o du

ov u. H poc d o o h oowg d ao o h c

o op da cca ma alm: od o

m r ,

c a

o cogz ha a o m (acc oducv oc coomc

a ) occup g a" h doma pac ha h a h pcl

ap c

o h coadco whch u h m o h oppo d m

( cv : h o ao o poduco up ucu ) H ack

o

o h a amo ( po o c a oMax coc )

ha

] h o u ha a c a p o x o pc wha

acho c a co o h da cca h o ma am . ' Th

h add h da cca d o da cca ma am:

od o a

l n

(ha o a o o a m cha)

ao c a o cogz h gao o h

u ha h a gc x ( g al') o h pcp m

vouch o h ma am h da c c acca o (

d ma cod o) vouch o h da cc h ma a

m . . ma am ha whch ucu coadco

a gca xg h plac o m h da cc ha whch

coadc h ucu hg h v o o pac h o

x o h agao o m

S v a pag a Badou daw om h a ocuo o mm

mpo:

c a o da ccz h da cc l oh wod

9 Alai Badiu, oi I otio Pai Frai Maper 97), pp 303, 36

0 Ma TeTg O Ctaditi , i

o O Pti Codtio,

ed Slavj Ziek

Ld: Ver, 007), pp 67, 7, 74, 78, 86, 9, 96, 98 t Pl to Ay utu

ae, Volum O

Badiu Tori I odio pp 4-3

Ibid, pp , 6 36, 43, 48, 6 - 6, 78, 80

3 Ibd, p 77

4 Ibid, pp 77-8

Ibd, p 78



I 06 ARAN HNST N

h da mus b mad o b om s xv On s v a subs

qu n oasons h ams hs h ss a h ss w uon a n

hs ssa.

No on do s Badou hav Maos s vaons abou ng ss v son

o

da a ma asm - o mu asons (man a d o hs d

s o boh anau Sa and ous Ahuss ) h woud aso b

a g o h sos o aan s wh h ma x m na s n s

o nau s m d b ng s h ms 8 Bu uous wo oon ns

o an ng sans aoh m n b w n Maxs ma asm and

h s n s S basano Tmanao and u n Sv k ws s ak

osv o da zng h da B o s gu ng no an ngag

m n wh ng ss k s n a d wngs a w mo au s o

Badous hosoh waan omm n h .

D s hs onoun d osAhuss an nhan o mah maa

omazaon and hs o av sv on on o s n

Badou n a n s o n v ws sas a numb o n sng hngs

s and o mos h d a s ha As gads wha has o do wh

hough . am a asan o h do n o m g n s. s a

unv s dub o ma and hough s a unv s dub o

Though s n v as a

u gnr

av Ths v muh

a as o b an ndos m n o m g nsm as a s o h o a

mod s n h naua s n s g n a and h s n s s a

(mod s s ssng dub and om x a d n ma a

v s) Gv n Badous a d Kons d usas o on d a

s n saus o boo ov and abov mo ua h ms (h

a s hs usa n h s sam n v ws3) hs n w n no o

b ound n hs o wok s som wha susng How v ous o

m g nsm s onss n no on wh hs ouhu mba o

16 bid p 81

1 7 Aan Badiou Po Jr I liiu (Pai

ion du S ui 1 98), p 84 Aai Badiou,

'B ond Foaaion An n ri ih Buno Bo ad P r Hallad]

Agl i ou l of

h Thori l Hum ii 8 2 (Augu 2003) pp 12 23 Adian ohnon, B diou

Z

d Polii l

T.orm i: Th C d ofCh (ao Noh Uni P , 2009), p ii

18 Johnon, Al i B diou

19 S aao Tipanao,

O ri z

a a n Ga (odon V o 1 980), pp

90-1.

20 ui n S , d., N u . di iu U h r

r

Si di t d I tur

(ai

ipu 1998) p 199

2 1 Aain Badiou, hiloohi l•m: ri bi Trby (a:

diion G a

2 0 ) p 1 9

22 Johnon, Al i Bdiou

23

Badiou hiloohi l•m pp 113-14



FR M SCIENT IIC S CIALISM T S CIAS SCENCEEN AN N W 107

h

ma asm o h Maxs adon (as ncaa d n Maosm n

paca) h ma as da cc o h s 2006 mas p c

og

o

Wo

r cod ad b n p d n hs con x as nvovng a non

bologca v son o h noon o song m g nc qa h mman n

g n ss o h h a ansc nd n4 (as cold nm os maks b

l

d Sohn R h l on h s o absacons o o naa phsca

mpca and/o hsoca gonds maks agabl o shadowng

Bados ma as dal cc5 and b ng o shadow d b h ng ls o

An Dng,

who sv s o oma a ma as naav xplanng

v n h g n ss o p mah maca cons laons and conscs) .

B Bados amaon o m g nsm b as o ach o a

H g an adj cv a on sd d conc pon o hs docn on hs pa.

Th o s o m g nc a sponan osl sp cav n H g s p cs

s ns nsoa as h sv o hnk h da ccs o conn and

dsconn. Bado wh hs nss nc pon

u gn

dcb

(.

l as dcb o ma and hogh as dcb o ) opsd

dl hghghs onl h dsconnos sd o h d a o m g nc . s

o h psd o conn and n nson wh hs c n app al o

m g nsm hs ph osoph al na s b w n omng and obddng

naasc nc accons o how ma g n a s o o s aono

mos saa o mo hanma a n s and v ns (sch as and

hogh) Mns sch accons cos o m g nsm sks b ng

m a g a cov ng dsavow d nonma as dasm (s)

Wha v h lmaons o Bados hogh as gads h aons

b w n sc nc and ma asm wsh o och n passng pon wo

oh ac s o hs phosoph l van o m p s n pss ac s wh

whch ag (and h s n addon o hs 97 ccsms o ng s o b

d plo d n m adngs o h a b low) . s n hs n v ws

wh

ab n Tab8 Bado gh pons o ha ma asm do s no

aomacal nal d mnsm. do s so on

nd h assmpon

o h vad o an nd lng m chansc dcv and/o mnav

m aphscs conc wh Bado on hs ahoh as w b com

24 Aan Badou, qc oJ: Beg d E<' tran Alberto Toano (London: Contnuum

2009), pp. 90 33, 69.

2 Afred SohnRethe l

tctu u bou A Ct tmoogy

tan. Martn

SohnRethel (ondon Macllan 978 pp. 7, 678 , 7 , 74-, 2 0 203

26 rederk ngel,

t-Dhq He ug D1hg Reouto Scece

(Moo: oregn

ngage Publhng Houe, 99 2nd edn pp 89 6

27 Johnton, A B ou

28 See ote 2

29 Badou

hoh t vmt

pp 44-.



I 08 ADRIAN HNS N

ceasgl evdet what foows he ad dffe o the fomuato of

a odetemstc maeasm

The secod facet of Badou's hlosoh whch ehusastcall

embace ths cotex s hs owfamous dstcto betwee he mae

als dalectc ad democac mateasm as atcuated the peface

to

oguv of orLJ

(wh democac matea sm admtg he exsece of

bue hscal bodes ad cultua elatve laguages ad ohg

moe) Ths dscto elegat caues some fudameta feaues of

he

hstoca suato of atecapas socees at he ed of he twe

eh ad the begg of the twest cetues. coecto wth

m effos o wed odas lfe sceces to a cea Maxs maea sm

see cuet deoogcal scesms aastzg boo ad ts baches -

these heomea cude amog othe thgs develomets subsumable

ude the headg of bopocs teecua bakupt socoboo

ad s mad academc offshoos medapopuazed geec deem

sms ad phamaceuca dust dsfomao as egaged the

acv of pa g a capalcompct pota of huma atue tha ca

ad shoud be combaed mecless ot o b phosoh ad potca

theozg but b hese modes of thought as amed seccal wth lfe

scec sghts coesg such sce sc cacatues ad dos.

Of couse Badou does ot all h s mateals daect c wh boo so

as o deegmze democatc matealsm accodg o ts ow ostesbl

butfaudulet scec stadads Ths would be o empo a

Tojahose tactc of mmaet ctque Howeve alhough dffe

tacca wh Badou m tactcs ae guded at b hs ecetve

dagoss of he pevalg deologca egest as democaca mate

alst. To be moe ecse the scetsc edos of huma atue

agast whch beeve a osgesa matealsm o be the bes be ae

aguab pemuaos of dmocac matealsm a subvaa of

mght abe catalst bologsm fo whch thee ae o mechaca

exchages betwee whol feesadg e esseces ad exteal

exseces Ths deoo has a log hso cea lowg fom amog

othe pots of og Hobbes Smth ad coma otemoa ca

talst bologsm as coceve makes usubstaated apeas o he lfe

sceces so as to dec huma begs as odaecca juxtaosos of

o he oe had aue' as a ecessa bude of ate uges (he

bodes of Badoua democac mateasm vewed as gee maches

30 Badi, of ol

.

-9



FR M

SCIENI FC S CALISM T S CALIS SCIENCE EN AN W 1 09

pogamm d vouioa p ssu s, ad, o oh had uu

as oig us s o ug ob s ( aguag s' o d moa

ma ia ism, s im as shig bud s o ommodi s ad ommodi d

aiosips . I a usaisig id oogia udg o h disio

b w dom ad d miism, p op a s as pop d a

sisi g d si io poi aig woks o soia osu d

o s

b w omp ig goods ad s v s o h apiais boogis,

i o umai is du d o a ogoig goiao b w wo

o

d p d pa s o x d iss ad uid povid s o h i sas

aios. Th a o s oomi s, oas ad asaos (wha

aqu s

aa a s h s vi o goods . Th s s a suppos d o

susaia hs ak ad boig piu . . . ad i o m da o o

k os wo ao o wi o mak p a w i

To mov om Badiou ak o Eg s , ahough I ag wi Badiou s

iiism o Eg s s iodia pv gig o mois o ui (as oiu

i,

i o d ss, oism, a d ss, oai, ad so o osd

i o boh possi ad poduv o wok Eg ss da is o

au om wii Tha is o sa, w as Badious iiqu o Eg s a

N rk k

is x a, mi is imma . sig hs ou qui s a

os xamaio o h pivoa xs:

D ofN r An -Drng

ad wg Frb/1.

I ioduio o

D of N

Eg s hsoia sua s

ph osoph ad si wi sp o ah o H maiais ha

a mod si s o h s v ad igh h ui s,

aoug mpia ah ad o ai G k ph osoph, o ss ag

h o ia id hs hooogia mu a om o ough.3

T G ks aiv a h sghs ough h o ia iuio, w as

posBaoia posGa a s ahi v s smia disov i s oug

a

mo iab ad uswo m od o a u mpiia iv siga

io Ud adig o ai G k phios, Eg s vd

has mid a ooogia vsio aog h i s o a H aiia ux

doi ,

a m apsia piu o

p

as a as ss ow o p

aig quid k s3 H i p s h mod si s as a

3 1 Jaque Laan, T Sm fcu Lc Book

V

Th hc Pyc;o!yi

19190

ed JaeAan lle, ran Denni Poe (New Yo WW Noon

& C

99,

303

3 315, 3 18 .

3 edeik nge Ioduion,

Dlci Ntu, ed nd an

C

P Du (New Yo

Ineaiona Puihe, 90,

6-7

33 Iid, 13-1

3 Id,

6-7



1 0 ARIAN HNS N

havig com aou o ubaiaig hi o oc m ahic

Pn

l

a h ma i v ig c i a Eg avou

ig o imag o am who i o ia h (a wh uch

a

i

An Dhrng

wh h a Th a ui o h wo coi i

i ma iai)

oo hiooh boh

An

hrn

a

uw urbch

hi a

io om h k o H g a h chooogica oxima

hioohica ouc o iiaio o hioica a ia cica ma ia

im

An Dhrng

Eg i i H g Dawiia ca goica

cio o oio o vouio qua aua hio a h mao aw h

chi h o hi N urphoOph7 o boh Max a Eg

Dawiia vouioa h o i a ci ic v ha ig o goo

h i a o a a ahioica a ohig mo ha a a

iio o h am cig cc (a i a aguab h o b H g

i hi h!oophy N u) . Dawi hioicizaio o au h o w

a o o u o ia ah o avac 8 i ic Max a

Eg o imagi h oibi i o a ig maic uicaio o h

huma a aua ci c o a oi ma iai bai (a oo o

H g a g i ai maizaio) Mo ov Eg oi o

Dawi a oviig h mo covicig vi c o a o h h i

ha au i i i ob civ ia cica4 H ao ob v ha

Maxi ia cic i g a hi wo icu i

N urk k

i o

a oo o h c a a Dawiia vouio i coig

a o oogica)

An Dhrng a uw urbch coai h uua Maxi ob cio

o a o mic agai H g ia i aim wih Eg i aig i

wih Max ha uima h H g ia m m a

ma iaim i aiica ui ow i m ho a co 4

How v hi gaiv ai i m b v a ackow gm

o H g igica i cua achi v m o h Eg o

An

Dhrng,

h ai vouioim o h H g ia h iooh o au

ho o b cou a acig fom o ciig i i ma

3 bid

6-7, 24-

36 Eng ls,

Ai-Dhrq,

6.

37 bid,

7-8

38 Ibid,

06

39 Ibid.,

39 , 4 1

40 Ibid.,

36.

1 Ibid. ,

18

Fr d rik Eng ls, Lud

urb ch d h Oucom 4 C! ic Grm Phi!oophy d. P D

N York n aional Publsh rs, 1 94 1



M M AR

oher vaabe eares.4 hs ve he decares arovg The

ara hosohers sad he same reao o coscos daecca

ara

scece as he oas o moder commsm44 (Sve secods

hese semes seakg o he ambgos eveess o he Hegea

hosoh o are4) or ges Heges aroach o are sos

ed

hrogh a meahsca rsm o a ror coces s he msca

she o hs

N urphooph

o be cas asde as a d eess hsk.4 B

he rmac graed o moveme o resess damcs ad rocesses

Hege

s hkg s ges's ees he r momeos ad rogressve

sde o Hegea hosoh ad hs dese o he gesa acco

hs revooa eevao o mobe egav beg coradcor

shacked

o he sass o a roe ramework

o deas dogmasm4 The

osHegea wa orward as ges sees s o reverse Hege's rvi

egg o hosoh over scece he recommeds grag scece rde

o

ace over hosoh reag rom he aer he heoreca oos o

orma ogc ad daeccs o be a he dsosa o he ormer.48

Frhermore he sggess hs aso eas he gesre o abadog

resmed access o absoe hosohca rh resg coe sead

wh he e s o exhasbe reave scec rhs arox

mag ever more cose o rea se.4

Dege exresses smar vews abe a somewha more cosed

ad ssemac asho ha ges (hs s de o hs beg a heoreca

aoddac a aer b rade who erhas more ha aoe s acqes

Racres rereseao o hosohs oor cobber5). Deges

verso o sceceormed daecca maerasm o a mch greaer

exe ha gess s garg marked b srog Baco a ad Hobbesa

emrcs hes he ed o esemoo (ad e Hobbes arcar

Dege seeks o combe he esemoo o emrcsm wh a oo

o bedg maerasm mosm ad omasm ahogh he eds

coser o a Sosc daasec as dsc

om a Hobbesa a

ooo) 5 Neher ges or Dege seems o ake oce o js how

43

Engels Ai-Dhig p 18

44 Ibd

4 Sve

N u i i lu

'

49-0 , 4-6

46 Engels

Lu ub h

43-4.

47 Engels Ai-Dh . 37-9 Engels Lu

'

ig ub h p -3.

48 Engels AiDhrig . 40.

49 bid . p. 67 Eges, Lu urb ch pp. 4.

0 Jacques Ranie Th Phio.hr H Poor ed Ade ake, as. oh uy, Cinne

Ose ad Ande ake uham: uke Uivesiy ess 004

19 3 3 1 .

1 oseph ietgen,

Th N u 4 Hum B- k Th Poi Ou 4 Phohy

tans



I 2 ARAN J HNST N

ob mac d om s of mcss s moog s a h

wak of H g ad h da ccs of hs o whch h a a. how ha

sad D zg s hlosohca cos ll hos of g s s ss boh

h fudam a o ss of b g as oo d s mosc ma a au

as h a uv sa of ux ad chag 3 ad h av ad aox

ma chaac of a uhs as xac d fom mca facs

Dscoug o Pa ko k's goss ov smao of D zg 's

h osohca ab s h ov as b w hs ad g s's vaas

of da cca ma asm hghgh h shocomgs of h osos.

Th boh s v ud sma h x o whch h mca

x m a sc c s of au c ssal d d uo h suo

ovd d b ud gdg m ahsca foudaos (som hg a ad

bough ou v c a b h H g of h omoLy of prt ad

1Jopy N u)

D zg s ca mas a a H g a sag

wh hs vocaos of bu aw s so c ua gv s as facua

sa s of affas dscos d o h md d c b h xam a wod

(h som m s s wh asg o a av as co sod c

h o of uh). Wh g s cams ha

NtrdLt

s o abou

oj cg o su mosg foma h osohca fabca d

coc ual ma s oo h obj cv quaosubj cv a of au

J1

h sss ha da cca ma asm dscov s da cca suc

u s ad oc ss s a ad d d h au h fog s

(o do s o cosd woh m og) ha H g s s hs ma

of

oc dg v wok fom h

omoLogy

owad ac h

sam wa. Wh Sv um s g s as h u s cuaz of H g a

N rl 7 ad ud sco s h obj cv asm of g ss da c

cs of au 8 h oo xhbs a obvous ss o h m hods ad

co s of H g s absou d asm (as cudg a obj cv alsm

wh s c o a a wod sad o b da cca

r Jh) .

Wha

W. Craik (Chicago Char H rr

&

Co., 98

7679 8 , 856 889 94, 00

79, 43

5

bd

.

88, 96 99 07.

53 Ibd,

.

0.

54 bid,

.

534

55 Ato Pa ko , Lnn J Pho.pr: A Crc nt th Phopc B Ln

d a Byro Rich (Milwauk : Maru tt U v rsi Pr , 003

.

9 00 0 , 1 ,

38 60.

56

Fr d rik Eg l, 'Dal cic, i Di ofN tu 67 Eg l, AntiDtwn . 9, 36.

57 Sv ,

'

N tu, Jcc, i ctu

'

68 7 , 76

58 Ibid,

5 6 64, 746.

59 ohsto, 'A W a Natur Ao ; ohsto, Th Vodig o W ak Natur Part O

ohsto, Th Voidig o W a Natur Part Two



R M SCENTF IC S CIALSM S CALIST SCIENC THEN AND N W 3

s wos Eg ss d c o s a oos l

o g da cca

laws gov g au cous dag o a g sso o a H g

a oas lg uo a oda cca l v l ds co

w

os o aws ad co s o s ad v s

u d

.

How v co o as Eg s ad D zg o o u T

oac

d acas agas Eg sa

Nturktk

as d o og

oug o o s au ua oc ad o a B ag d

a

Maxs soca a als as c d o axsdv da c

cs o aoug soca suj cs ad oj cs o aua ad aca

qu s

su ao a da ccaa as accou o a

aua g ss o s acv ua suj cv wa o z o

o ow Eg s ad w ss go D zg us cs l s T

do

so a l gg o a avaa souc s o

oogca dos o ua gs

w co s o d so s o sc c s ad a

as acua as va o ad ud sood Eg ls a ul

as a s a s jucu Ati-Dg co s Maxs s ss

o

u ac dscosg vu a o soca a s o

a as o d as o o d as oj cos ad o s sg

adv o sdous dsavow d od s o d als Bu Eg s

do s o wag s g a s a a ass as g oducs

o l cua az ss o wu d ss o a o asas.

s ad coss w soca s s s o Maxs a as

xas a c u adv o cucal d v o s

sc c s ak s ossl aso o oda cca

o

da cca a as . To o cs Eg s

dwg urbh

agu s a losoca a as ca do s ad us cag

ad w advac s aua sc c s (s agu g o a

c w s vous o d v so o uo d H g a

ozao o oso ov sc c . T a

c cal casc

a as o g c u ac s o cal gag d a

als s o u ac socall a s d c sso o

sus qu a as ouloo o Max ad Eg s as cas

60 Ees 'ecics

6-7; Ees AtD·q

pp

193-6

6

Johsto Plwa

Ay Fuu atral Volum To

6

es -Dr

190-

63 Es u Fubac

pp

-6

64 d Fedeik Ees Th Holy Famly trs R io i vid ce, ed

Karl

w·

Sl ·J (Oford OUP 977),

149-.



c, g ls popos s, b cas h aa sc c s, a ha sag o h

d v opm ,

w god d o h m chacs o N woa phscs as

h

mos advac d o h sc c s a h m . H c , h F ch ma

alss cold o b b m chasc h gh agas d als

spalsms

ad hs c ssal ad appopa l, gh o h s

hk s hsocal sao boh l call ad poca. k ws ,

D zg

s coal c s o h hma ba qa obj c o mo

ham chasc sc c as h ma al bass o G h a h cca

mpoac o h og dscp o bolo o hs da ccal ma al

sm g ls, oo, mphacall pos a h ba).

D g , d sp hs hsasm o h l sc c s co co

wh Maxs ma alsm, s w l awa o h d o gd h s

sc c s alog h aow pah b w m chasc ma alsm ad

ogh d alsm. 169 h obs v s, Th acl ohogh s sl a

kow, ms os, msca b g o aa sc c . h

coods h co wh h oga, h md wh h ba, as do

h ma alss, o b l v s wh h d alss ha h acl o

hogh s a mp c pb obj c g osd o s ld . 8 a o

alog h sam l s, D g comm s:

Th spals o d als

blv

a spal, [whch m as a ghos

k ad xplcab a o oc . Th ma als hk s, o h

oh had, a

ubig

sc c poo o b l o b l do s

o xs. Th ma as has hs advaag ov hs d als oppo ,

ha h looks o h asc d al, h a , h cas , h oc ,

o

bhi

h ph om o, o

o<e

o ma . B h mas b hd

h d als ha h go s h d c b w ma ad oc ,

d s h pobl m.

ls wh h bam s gsc lmaos o h log ch d b

v h ss spassab ) d adlock b w a lopsd d ma alsm o

, d s ma ad a qal opsd d d alsm o d aoa g s

ad d ma al d sps. Cosoa wh h Max o h Th s s o

F bach' , D zg co ds ha h so ma als wa o jmp o

6

Ees Lud

'

rb h

.

6-7

66

Dietze N tu Hum B i ork

.

84-6 88 99-00, 3.

67 Ees Lud

'

i rb h

0 -3, 6.

68

Dietze

N tu Hum Br rk

.

69 d 40.

70

Dietze Th Poiti

'

Outom ofPhioJophy Th PoJi• Outm ofPhiophy

36.



FR M SIENIFI S IALISM S ALS SIENE //THEN AN N W 1 1 5

his s saw b w n on sid d sid s is o bui d a n w ma ialism on

ha is n ih con mpaiv no m chanisic

and ha in ga s wihin

is in a non duciv mann h aciv sid o subj cs wih h i

h o

ical and pacica acivii s

Di zg n s disincions b tw n on h on hand ma and on h

oh hand oc ' and/o mind a popos d as g lian/Sch lingian

s dial cical id nii s o id nii s and di nc s. nd implici

anslaing

h Maxis logic o h social dial cics o inasucu and

sup sucu ino h ms o h mindbod pob m h sp aks o h

laiv

(ah han absou ) di nc o h

m na om h ma ia

( voing h laiv auonom' o h sup sucual in laion o h

inasucua) 3 N a h concusion o The Na u oHan Bin- Work

as w as in

The oJi ie u come of hoJophy

h insighul signals ha a

dial cicalma

iais sup s ssion (i. an

eng)

o h impass

b w n nondia cical ma ialism and id aism bings abou no on a

b comingnaua o h spiiua bu simulan ousl a cipocal b com

ingspiiual o h naua. n oh wods a ma iaism ha is aso a

non duciv

nauaism - such is dial cical ma ialism sicl sp ak

ing o boh ng ls and Di zg n - mus ansom conc pions o nau

in paa wih a ing id as abou subj civi in is naualizaion o h

a . o an dial c ical s nsiiv posiion nd ing d nauaiz d

mo hanma ial subj cs u imman n o ma ial nau chang s

pio

imag s o boh h subj civ and h naua a on and h sam

im . hough Di zg n av s h d ais o his in a sk ch haz lik

ng s, h aso ais o disc n jus how much o his H g l had al ad

anicipa d

in his und app cia d

ReaphioJoph75

hink h is abso

u l co c as gads h s ci ia sipuaing wha a obus and

d nsibl dial cical ma ialism has o includ .

ng ls

dawing on his x nsiv s ach ino h li sci nc s labous

o

consuc a much mo d ail d picu o a non duciv (quasi)

naualis h o o subj civi consis n wih dal cical ma iaism

ow v

in all h o his boos d aing wih

Na rek ik

h issu s

ov vi w sa m ns v aing him o b on h sam pag as Di zg n n

71 ohso A ak Natu Al

7 Dieze

Natu 4Huma Ba k,

.

135.

3 Deze PJi Outcome Pily,

.

359 36.

Deze

Natu f Huma Bai

k, .

3-; Dee

Outcm Piloy, .

330.

75

ohso A Wek ure Aoe ohso Voidi of ek ure: Pr Oe ohso

Vod i ofek ue: Pr Two.



I 1 6 DRIN jNST N

h ioducio o Diac icJ of Na u h ovid s a sosis o wha is

aguabl h mos imoa cha o h whol book h ssa il d

h Pa Pla d b abou i h asiio om o Ma ( wil

ocus susai d a io o his pi c shol) . Tacil ig upo o

o his h H g ld iv d dia cical laws his woud b h o osi

ig

h occu c o l a ik asi ios b quaii s ad quaii s

g ls d scib s h m g c o huma ou o aual hiso as h

i al oducio o a discoiui (i. . h a io huma hiso)

ou o a p c dig coiui (i h aua hiso om which huma

hiso oigia sigs) H s aks i H g ia ashio o ha

mammal i which au aais coscious ss o is ma (i

uwig Furbach,

ad i soac wih Mas cogiio o h sapi

s i c o huma b igs as a disiciv au s ig h m aa om

oh

aimas ad h s o h aual iv s 8 h disiguish s

au om humai as ucoscious ss om coscious ss h b

aso choig h Sch lligia H g lia id a o au as i d i i

g c ) Th vouioa s om ohuma ima s o humas

is l mb dd d i h l gh coig s u c s o coiuall as

omig aual ad aima oms is said o ak h gu b w ma

ad mok a ubidg abl o .8 Oc agai h s cuaiv id i

o id i (as h coiui o aual volio) ad di c (as h

discoiui o a vouioail g a d b ak wih au ) ov s o

b a i ga as c o

Na urk ik.

n Dhring

g s mom ail ac s s ss o h imma c o

humai o vovig hisoiciz d au . H do s so s mig o

asos o a imail is moogical so his co g s cl a

assum s ha h p c dig woadahal cui s o h mach o h

mod sci c s s s h pog ssiv cosolidaio o a v

m aioal gi o mpiical hsical ali. O h basis o his

assumio h claims uwiigl caiuaig H g s absolu id al

ism (wih is obj civ al ism) ha h u ima codiio o possibili

paiig h vid isomophisms b w h coc s o mid d

subj cs (i humas) ad h obj cs o h asubj civ wod (i. . au )

is

h a oologica imma c oh om o h a is mologica

76 Ee, ' Iroduio, pp 7-8.

77 Ibid.,

p

7

78 oto, A k N tu An

79 Ee,

Ludig b h pp

480.

80

Ee, ' todutio,

p.

17



FR M CEN FIC CIAIM CIALI CI ENCE\ HN AN N W I 1 7

obl ms o acc ss o sbj cv o obj cv ar ss zzg or a

da ccal

ma rasm ss macal combg sc c o ma

soc

( Marxs soca ma rasm) w a o socz a

( Darwa boo), soar as do s o dascal os a ma

asc d md a as o b som ow r co c d w s

xra

m a O 8 (Sv ra s s g lsa agm 8) . o

g s (as o D zg ), dsco b w ma g ad

ara b g s a dsco ral o aa b g s

o

ca ow b s oo x o

Dc icJ f Na ure

s c cal T Pa Pla d b abo Taso rom o

Ma . Ts 1 76 ssa, wod maa s clos s g ls com s o

slg Maxs socal ma asm w s qr d dal cca

baralsc

acco, coss w Darwsm, o ma b gs

as laborg socal cr ar s s o g araga sa s:

abo s sorc o a w a coomss ass r s s

x o a wc s s w ma ral a cov rs o

w a B s aso mor a s s ma basc

codo or a ma xs c , ad s o sc a x a, a

s s , w av o sa a labor cr a ma ms .83

ac abo gv Maxs coc o o mas

Ga zgweJen

(s c sb g), all s s l o mo a a ac o a

ral world. Hma s c sb g as o var o ama l amog ma

o s scall dca s a mas k a o r amas, sggl

w

aal ma ral srodgs ord o ssa ms lv s as

vg b gs ( c g ss d cao o abor as rma basc

codo or a ma xs c ) s s a sac o a as a o

Wol oO so og w a aagosms ad sos

wr slg w s : ma b gs wo wr s w a a m

s v s mma o ar , a ars o .

r s clav ws o b a ca d r c g qoa

o s v sa g s bgs abo b w ag ad aco

v oos o ag c ( r , laborg sbj c) ad acv

( r s sbj c s abo) sal l oa ag c as jog

8 1

E

AntDng

55

8

Sv

Nt " q

5 3-6 151 15.

8 Fdick E T P Pd b Lbr

th Tito om o M

D·f(v

oNtu

79



1 ADRIHNST N

oologca

po ov acv his oda cca od g o

p c d c h aio o u c s a o way s wh a a ady

h ag (agai h aboig subj c) d mig ad podcg

a

co sp

odg acio (agai h subj cs abo) om hs p sp c

iv acos do o co aiv lybiv s y d m ad podc

ag s

By shap coas o boh Max ad g s cpocal

acios b w subj cs ad obj cs m da d by pacic s qa acos

muualy modg boh h s pol s i paal a h Ths

h p p uay ogoig acv o laboig humas coua ly

chag h ms v s a h sam im as h y al h i oh s (. . h

v opg vios o aal i s ad oc s) H c abo

c a s s subj c (abou c a d ma hms ) as much as is c a d

by . oh wods h huma b g s by a (as p h sp c s

b ig) h simua ous subj cobj c o labo

Dawig o h sh so s o ammio om Dawia bioo

avalab o h m g ls aghs po h hma had wih s opposab

hmb as a aaly volv d physical au o hma aaomy ha has

omous sigcac . H siua s his body pa a h xs o h

dia cica acios hough whch aual hsoy imma y sd s

s by gvig is o hma sbj cobj cs o abo who h ms lv s

hough h a pomp d acios caayz h xposv m g c

o d aualiz d socia h soy. o po g ls ass s h had is

o oy h oga o labo

LJ

a&o he produc of abour

8

4

Dawa

voio s p cis mod s o socizig au h ms v s p m plg

gig io h appaas o Maxs ma iaism wha cod b call d

bop lasici (aog h l s so cuca o Cah Malabo h

ow sbsaial os o v a w dia ccal ma asm o h

w s c uy) Ths biopasc is a pvoal compo o a

sp cical ma iais dia ccs o hma b gs as s asomav

sbj obj s

ddg sp ch o labo g ls poc ds o d scib a comp x s m

b o agl d i p ag acos sposbl o h asc o o

aual ma o h mo haaual sucu s ad ph om a o

coc o Maxs hsoical ma asm Wh h hypoh ss i h

backgod ha h huma bas vouo was dv owad by

hadd c d labou h aboa s

8 Ibid

8 1 .



R M SCNIC S CSM S CIS SCNC : HN ND N W 1 1 9

Th actio o labo ad p ch o th d v lopm t o th bai ad

t att dat o th ic aig ca o coco , pow

o abtactio ad o dg m t, gav a v w d imp to th

th d v lopm t o both labo ad p ch. Thi th d v lop

m t

did ot ach it coclio wh ma all b cam ditict

om

th mok , bt, o th whol , coti d to mak pow l

pog , vag d g ad d ctio amog d t p opl ad

at di t tim , ad h ad th v it pt d b a local o

t mpoa g o.

Thi

th d v lopm t ha b tog g d oad, o th

o had, ad ha b gid d alog mo d it di ctio o th

oth had, owig to a w l m t which cam ito pla with th

app aac o ll dg d ma, vi. oc

g l go o to cot d that th voltioail pak d votio

(a

at imma t pt wth at ) d tadabl pompt th

adv t o d alit woldvi w thoghot hmai

B th coop atio o had, oga o p ch, ad bai, ot o l i

ach idividal, bt ao i oci , hma b ig b cam capabl o

x ctig mo ad mo complicat d op atio, ad o ttig th m

lv , ad achi vig, high ad high aim. With ach g atio,

labo it l b cam di t, mo p ct, mo div i d

gclt wa add d to htig ad cattl b dig th pi ig,

w avig, m talwokig, pott , ad avigato. log with tad

ad idt, th app a d al l at ad ci c om tib th

d v lop d ato ad tat

aw ad politic ao ad wth th m th atatic ctio o

hma thig i th hma mid go. th ac o al l th c a

tio, which app a d i th t plac to b podct o th mid, ad

which m d to domiat hma oci , th mo mod t podc

tio o th wokig had t at d to th backgod, th mo o

ic th mid that pla th abo poc a ad at a v al

tag o d v lopm t o oci ( .g al ad i th impl amil), wa

abl to hav th labo that had b pla d cai d ot b oth

had tha it ow. l m it o th wit advac o civiliatio wa

acib d to th mid to th d v lopm t ad activi o th bai. M

8 Id

.

8.



1 20 ADRIA J HS

beame asomed o exa e aos fom e ogs

sead of fom e eeds (w a ase ae eeed ad ome

o ososess e md) ad so ee aose e ose of me

a deas oook o e wod w esea se e dee

of e ae wod as domaed mes mds. s es em o

s a degee a eve e mos maeas aa sess of e

Dawa soo ae s abe o fom a ea dea of e og of

ma bease de s deooga ee e do o eogse e

a a as bee aed ee b abo.8

wa o gg a few faes of s m faeed deso of ow e

ve maea so of e faa aa geess of deaazed

ma oa ses e sage fo s ow oso b eag e

m of amaeas os as egos sasms ad so o

e eogaed moveme fom aa o ma so a ea

maa abo abo egaged b soa begs ( .e . mas

a

Max

w e ea

Gazgwn

qa sefdeaazg ae as wok

g gegaos amas) gges a asade of evemoeae dvsos

of abo w a s bewee maa ad eea abo eve

a oes soees so maa abo odes o of sef

e dvde bewee sef ad eea abo. Wa s moe e e

ea abo eeb oded eases e memo of s maea

soa ogs ad so dog oagaes deooges a ome o

oo e ososess of eea ad maa aboes ake fo

oess geeaos eeafe Posoes ad oosoes bo

ed beg veabe o e sedos ad emaos

of deasm o

msosg emseves ad e soees as mag o e eads

Befoe mg fowad fom ges o s adf of avowed oem

oa

es e fe sees ws be o desoe aoe oe

soded

Diac ic ofNa .

s ex ges we befoe eveg

fom e eooga gee kg of e as sevea deades o ea

sas of e seave easm moveme e oea

oso (Dezge8 Geog Pekaov88 e8 ad Paekoek

6 Iid.

9.

7 Dietze

N tu Hum Bri ork

.

7 9 95 1 1.

Geore

ekho ud mt l Pblm of rm ed . Jmes S. e ts Juius te

New

ork tertio ubshers, 969 30- 5 3 90

9

I ei, tri l mirio ritiim (eki Foei ues ress, 97

1-9 3 56 69 95 39 -5 1 5-3 177 1 95 03 05 1 6 305 3 1 01 0 6

90

ekoe, Li Phoopr

09- 0.



FR M SCIET IIC S CIALISM S CIAS SCECE<HE A W 1 1

amog oh s ad addo o Eg s v h m d d as v ws

b g

vv d oda wh o o o h og sabsh d

axs ado o gouds h g a hahuma dm sos o

hsa b g as ma a au H mus s abou h vab x

o o huma s h o h huma s s g qua

as moa ao o h h so o h uv s as h o a d

vdua ogasm (Tmaao aovg ud s h s mom s

wh Eg s s o h d ms ad dsa aa o huma

as a who . H aso s was us o . a ous v s

ov

muh o aou o ou huma oqu s ov au . o ah suh

oqu s ak s s v g o us. '

gh o hs wha s h au o g ss ga asm d va h

Bsh

axs ad Sov s ss ad h osoh s o s o h

d ad s o h w h u o o h S od Wod Wa as

sads owadas h s s? h book h d da o g s

s ad wo dos g s a

Na uriak ik

g a ad h

sos o s uaos s d ou Th Pa Pa d abou h

Taso om o a' s a. Th mba g s s ss

ha huma ad ohuma amas ak a ogasms aag

a suj obj da wh h vom s vs ad

wo (ad S v Ros oo a d mhasz boh ha oga

sms

ad vom s a o u s aab om ah oh ad ha

ogasms a o jus assv d m d h vom s bu a

o d m h vom s u Th s wo oogss ou

wh g s ha huma so as s ou o ama soa ogazao

bu

as as s asoms h sga o adaaos ad a s

w ds . Cosous oowg Eg ss oos s h s k o

uva a baa d a ao o h m d ou s ad dso

u s b w humas ad h s o (ama au 8 wh hs

9 1 e I di p 1 .

9 Tip

On t m,

pp 1 3 3-9

93

e Te P Ped b bu i e T Ape pp 9-

9 e d ewi

D ! l Bolot,

pp 970

95

e 'Te ed b bu i e Tii Ape pp 990 ev

d ewi D lct l Bo/og p 7

9 ei d ew D ltc l Bologt, pp 9 99 ; Rid ewi Gee

ime d O i Rd ew d id ei

Bogy Un th ]unc

D lt

c l y oloy, Aqcultu n H t

(New Y Reew e 007 p 3

See Re f/nJ Bolqy Bon Dtm (Od OP 1997 pp. 03 7 5

79 30.

97 ei d ewi

Dct l Bologt,

p

9 bid p 1 33



1 22 ADRAN HNST N

ba by her ngesan ghs once agan comeng recourse o a

daecca maerasm seerng beween he Scya and harybds o on

he one hand mechansc and reducve maerasm and on he oher

a sors o deasms nd whereas nges aces he human hand a

he nersecon beween crsscrossng subjecve and objecve roc

esses Levns and Lewonn or he same basc reasons oreground he

asc cerebra corex as he embodmen eomzng humans saus as

hybrd subjecobjecs.

However ahough s evns and Lewonn who dedcae a book o

nges Rose s more ah o orhodox ngesan daecca maerasm

nsoar as hs docrne avours mages o umae whoeness when a s

sad and done To be more exac Rose's book

ein Bg Beond

De erm" aears o be hosohcay nconssen n s waverng

beween embracng srong emergens modes (wh her anreducve

and andeermns ushos) and unnuanced armaons o he monsc

oneness and seconssency o maera beng as an onoogcay seamess

oa. He reeaedy quaes hs commmen o exanao dvers

(or nsance he rreducb o boogca o hysca exanaons) as

srcy esemoogca coung hs esemolo o rreducbe ura

wh an onoo o un: Our word may be s woud cam - an ono

ogca un bu o undersand we need he esemoogca dvers ha

he deren eves o exanaon oer He aer reeraes ha we

requre esemoogca dvers n order o undersand he onoogca

un o our word

and

ha

we ve n a maera word whch s an ono

ogca un bu whch we aroach wh esemoogca dvers'

nd ye gven oher o Roses asserons seems he needs he rreduc

b o emergen henomena o be a maer o rea beng and no jus

scenc hnkng o be onoogcal n addon o esemoogca Tha s

o say hs word has o be rea y dverse nsead o uned a deoazed

noWhoe raher han an organc One . ndugng n he robemac

equvocaon between reedom and mere ndeermnacy (a sage cr

czed we beore Roses book by Tmanaro ) he secuaes ha naure

esecay a s organc eves s so comex and overdeermned ha

merey n s sesandng objecve exsence dees a deermns

99 bid., pp. 33 36

00 bid. p 37.

0

Roe Lfl p. 9.

0 Ibid. p 96.

03 bid., p. 304.

04 Timpro O aia!�m p. 40



R M SENI S ALSM T S IALST SIENE !(TEN AN N W 23

hypoth s s put fow y utionist iologists n soing his

ontologiing of wht h ls wh inonsist ntly t ts s stitly pist

mologil h stt s in t miny is not m ly mtt of ignon

o

lk

o

ut t hnolo; it is inh nt in th ntu of lif its lf'

A th sou of t nsion with Ros s p viling Eng lsin (wholism is

g n t

y his stut ignos s of img s

of Nt withpitlN

th s img s of wht suppos ly woul ln n hmonious on its

own

w it not fo humns p ious to nvonm ntlists n nowys

n

ompnyig ho of v tis s n th i onsum s s i ologil

ilusions

wth no sis in th lif si n s (L wontin mk s th sm itil

os vtions8 Ros o s not l how n why his p ioily

polm ith tht th ntul wol is ultimt ly smooth monist uni

(n

this spit wht h ms

th i uil iv si of th pluli

of oth ntul n humn si n s is not symptomti

o ling ing uni

gnos

tthm nt on his pt to tly th sm uim nt vsion of

ntu

h l to y oi ologu s But inst of hstising Ros fo lk o

th o til igo I int n to t his villtions k to t nsions l y

int nl to Eng ls s mt ilist il tis of ntu n to put th s t nsions

to wok in th s v o lying th fountions fo n w

Na ur i

Th s on hpt o

Dlec c of Na u

ntitl Dil tis op ns

with th Eng ls of notoi muh itii y ntiEng lsin W st n

Mists fo pomoting n i pioi H g lin fomlism of p

Mist kin ni ul ly po t onto ntu yon histoy

Amitt ly th is som thing to th s it iisms in ltion to hg s

ging th instum ntl m thoil fomlition o H g l's phi los

ophy in this ont t How v wht th s sm itiisms ov look is

th possiili ofn immn nt inst of n t nl itiqu ofEng lsin

il tis

Th st s nt n (tully s nt n fgm nt of Eng ls's hpt

vot to il tis h op ns it with p nth sis - s (Th g n l

ntu of il tis to v lop s th si n of int onn tions in

ontst to m tphysis Oviously Eng ls on si ly susum s his

postH g lin on ptul toolkit un th h ing of uni y ning

il tis s th si n o int onn tions ' H th n infmously lists his

105

Rose, en pp 6-7 5 09

106 Ibd,

p

15.

07 Roe,

Len pp

8 6 07.

08 Lewoi, 'Gees, Eviroe, d Orss,

pp

-

1 09 Ees, ' Diects,

p

6



1 2 ADRAN HNS N

dia cica aw: on Th aw o h anomaon o quan

ino quai and ce

ea wo Th aw o h in n aion o oo

i h Th aw o h n gaon o h n gaion

Wha

ng aa n ai o aiz und h n u nc

o hi

oid d oganc monim i ha h o hi h aw o da cic in

acua i doub dg d wih on o i dg di c cung agan h

(whoiic ov mhai on un in gaion conn c dn and o on

H g da cic o quani and quai ado d a a inci o u b

ng i h oigina conc uaizaion o h ucu and dnamic

n ga o h much mo c n i c nc aadigm o m g nim

(a

o aiv in h wiing o L vin L wonin and Ro among man

oh . n igh o H g ian cuav aon' handing o coninui and

diconinui (cona h non cuaiv und anding am n o hi

ai a wo muua xcuiv bina ooi h diconnui caa

z d b and o aiv wihin h in acion b w n quaniaiv and

quaiaiv dim nion mu b gan d h i ac a w in om

o L vin and L wonin id a a moving mo in hi di cion

A w hav n Badiou ob v d in 2006 ha h adiiona conic

b w n id aim and ma iaim ha b n u d d und a caia

im b a n w inama iai anagonim b w n d mocaic ma iaim

and h ma iai dia cic. A ad in h 970 L vin and L wonin

had imia ob v d ha wihin and aound h ci nc id a im

v uma iaim had b n ac d b ducionimv udia cic

Bu

unik Ro h unambiguou and unwav ing adh o an

onoogiz d ong m g ni ch ma in which dia cica oc

mbing ho o H g ian quani and quai giv i o aiv

auonomou v and a o mbodi d b ng i ducib o h oh

ma ia aa om whch h ao .

o m uo c ain o L vin and L wonn cicaon o

h i ani ducivi dia cc o nau a o cia ignicanc i

o a n boh

The Dlec al Biolog

and

Blogy Under e ence

(h i

wo coauho d co cion o a h a d ak o w ak

conain a gad h conc ocaizaon o ivng oganim

wihin nica in cion o mu gon o aion nii and

oc 3 On on o h occaion h xain

1 1 0 Ibid

1 1

L vis d L woi Daltial Bilogt

1 1 bid

88

1 1

3 bid

10 ewot d Levis Biology Ur th uw

6 3.



R M

SI S A

SM S AST SI [ AD W 1 25

Bioogca ob cs a m da i s ad i ra uc

ioal rog ous s a cos u c b avio cao b

d mi d rom a ow dg o o a sma ub o o i s, as

o ca s ci o o a a o a 's dsac ro

su, is mass, ad is v oci, wiou b g coc r d abou wa s

ad o

Bioogca obj cs a a xus o a v ag ub o dvdu

a w a oc s oug r a d d acos amog s

oc s (ad i acios ar o o ss c ), i s aso cas

a a v larg umb rs o suss s o causa awas a

a ss ia id d o o ao , so a i cs o a

ogais a a as adom wi s c o o ao

4

T cou baac agas g sa rivl gg o i rco c d

ss is obvous Bu I c v a ur r s a soud b a a

s oi ca oduc is addoa ov us

[T]a Ui d Sa s d a ax cod as a xaml o a sboc

ss Tis cod is a bod o cical gal siuaios so massiv

a o sig so, o v mos ow dg ab ax x , as

a com ud sadig o wo o aws ad ow s

aws og wi o ao Mo ov a a a, succ s

sv l gisaiv s ssios o Cogr ss cag cod , addig,

subacig, ad odig aws O cous , s as a c a

io o v mo ooo s ax cod is a o go cocusio,

sic os a ig is bod o aws cao kow i advac wa

uo s ossibii s wi as ro sucua i racios

b w a ad ssau ud sood io s o xisig

aws ad cag s (as addios, suacos, ad modicaios)

mad o s aws. ims d aig w accouig ad ax advic

ma i o b discov ig ad xoig ooo s i

bod o aws omig i o US d a ax cod

5

s I av sugg s d b o

6

is xam o ax aw as a smboc ss m

aguabl ods a as b aao ( o ooo o somosm),

1 1 Ibid.

28

I 1 Adi so

Z

ik Ontoogy: A .ndntl teiit Tory o Seiviy (Est:

Nrtweste Uiersi Press 2008

10.

1 16 Ibid,

10-



1 26 ARIAN HNST N

for th n xus of a v larg num r of iniviually w ak forc s within

which vins an wontin situat iological ings (i. it hols for r a

as w ll as symolic syst ms for natural as w l as nonnatural structur s

an ynamics) . If plausily th w akn ss of th multip inu nc s an

caus s which vins an wontin scri functions as p r my ilustra

tion of symolic syst ms surpassing a c rtain thr sho of compl xi

th n how v r rar y th w ak shack s of th s forc s som tim s com

unon an fal to th groun thanks to th ir own isharmonious contra

icto clash s with ach oth r th ir inn r incompatiil iti s

ak ov r t rmination

f

vins an wontin l as (or v n

p rhaps l aps) out o its lf to un r or non t rmination how v r

occasional an xc ptional might th s loophol lik short circuits

imman ntly transpiring within natural mat riaiti s th s on s of anomi

op n y a s fsun ring sustanc as n c ssaryutnotsufci nt

conitions of poss iil i for th autonomy of naturaliz mor than

mat rialiti s (such as th su ctiv ag nts of sociohistorical chang not

for v r oom to ali nat s rvitu to what v r counts as th purport

ly natural status quo) his is a ig st p along th roa from ial ctica

to transc n ntal mat rialism a transition ntailing th sulation of th

form r y th latt r. Marxs historical mat rialism with its pr supposi

tions r garing human sp ci s ing this

GazgJwJn

inclu s an

ff ctiv non piph nom nal conscious voition onging to min an

lik min human ings in aition an r lat to th ir n riv n

social laouring r quir s this transc n nta mat rialist supplm nt.

Although transc n ntal mat rialism is p in t to Eng lss

ial ctical mat rialism Eng ls o s not quit manag in his amiral

fforts towars this goal to outt Marxism with a syst matic quasinatu

ralist mat rialism ov tailing with an rm uttr ssing Marxs

historicamat rialist critiqu of political conomy.

Ev n

mor signicantly vins an wontin stipulat an implicit

moication to Eng ls s thir law of ial ctics (th law of th n gation of

th n gation) h r as Eng ls harn ss s th H g lian conc pt of t r

minat n gation (as oppos to th astract n gation of th surational

un rstaning) in th s rvic of a pictur f th mat ria r al as a tight

wov n tap st of xhaustiv ly ntwn thr as h is two iologist

sc nants put forwar a notion of t rminat n gation introucing

iscontinuiti s rath r than stalishing an sustaining continuit i s Th y

cont n othing is mor c ntral to a ial ctical un rstaning of natur

than th r alization that th cnitions n c ssary for th coming into



FR M SINIF I S IALISM S IALIST SINTHN AN N W 27

ng

of som stat of th worl may stroy y th v stat of

natur to whih thy gav ris. Mor so than Engss formalzaton of

ialtis as an nstrumntal mtho vins an wontn's haratr

zation

of

Na urek ik

ary invovs gnralizng spally from

Marxs Hglinspr

ialta analyss of soohstoral vlop

mnt

hithrto as propl forwar y th ngativ nr of ass

struggs

(ulminatng of ours in ommunism's struton of apital

sm atr aptalism has ma possil an givn rs to ommunism) or

Marx

Human anatomy ontains a ky to th anatomy of th ap 8; lik

ws for vins an wontin historal iatis ontans a ky to th

logis of natura iatis. hat Engs artulats gropngly n hs

sussion of th transition from aps to humans hs sintist offsprng

staz wth gratr uii

This nwr postEnglsian iats of natur tatly rs upon a

mtaialtal altiizaton of ialtis along th lins of what

Baiou, Timpanaro an Sv al l man as w hav sn Mor prisy

in

aiton to th intrminat ngations of Ver and an th trmnat

ngations of

Veun

(with th son as intrprt y Engls) vins

an L wontin hnt at a thir p of ngation itslf a prmutation of

Hglan trminat ngation qua iatia. Ths thir var might

pt as th nonialtal si of trminat ngation with this p

ton ntaiing a mtaiatis of th ialtial an th nonialta

intrna to trminat ngation

Apart from whatvr inhrnt phlosophial intrst it mght possss

what if any payoff os my transnntal matrialist

Ae6ung

of ia

ta matralism y rlativ to th guing ovrrng onrns of th

Marxist traiton as a istnt polital an thortia orintaton? Broay

an summary spaking I s four pra ways in whih ths approah is

onstrutv an usfu for Marxism On my rptiton of a gstur rst

olly prform y Engs an nin (i rruitg th natural sns

to th si of Marxst matriaism) turns th lf sins thmslvs n a

prminnt ultural an institutona positon n th strn worl toay

om supporting to ontsting th HosanSmithan portrait of human

natur an along wth this lning furthr support to Marx an Englss

loaaring matrialist hypothss rgarng th spising of human

i Two transnnta matriaisms mtaialtis of natur hlps to

1 17 Leo d Les, Boogy Und th un 1

1 x, Gund ounton th Ctu o Poc &·onomy rs. i Nicos

(Ne ok: Pe Books, 199)

105



12 DRI

NON

unk oh hiosophialy an si naly on mporary si ns

i oogi s (suh as hos r la o wha Ros a ls n urog n i r

minism

) ha fas ly naurali

sausquo soial r laions an forms of

su on

as i olo in various soiohisorial guis s ially ri s o

o; on h aiv fron of a liv in ua war of posion his ua

ma rialism sriv s o unmask iosi nisms s ious raionaliaions for a

min

oggling array of inasruural an sup rsrutura f aur s of la

aiaism Thr i pursu s wha s as h vaua goal of horoughy

immuniing Maris ma riaism from h hr as of hr in l ual an

i oogial ang rs ov r i aisms

a

osusian anipahy o h

naural si n s in s rn Marism) ov r i aisms (if only y assoia

ion wih h uious ompany of onsious or unonsious n oKanians

or h h ologially inin ) an nonial ial ma rialisms (o ak a

hanful of amp s wha Baiou us morai ma rialism wha

sri as apiais ioogism Ros s n urog n i rminism an sim

ar manif saions ha ar now uiquious) our spi arrying ou his

immuniaion my osiion alows for h ouining of a on morary ma

riaism ha is oh fully ompail wih h or of Mar an Eng ss

shar cug as w ll as for sriking a ia alan w n

afrming fr om an amiing rminism in suh a way ha oiism

aou r vouionary su iv ag ny an r aism aou o iv ma ria

oniions an onsrains an varyingly omin

ways aroria

an s nsiiv o shiing onr onunur s (h r y alowing for a ai

aly an sra galy wis so r onviion ha avois viaing in h

ir ion of ih r wil y Pangossianism or ul y r signaion)

A main in of aak r sor o y Mariss hosil o Eng ls an his

ial is of naur is on saly mirroring an alloofamiliar nonMaris

anar This ommonpla r frain min ssly wri s off Marism in is

muifa nir y uaing i whol sa wih Salinism. Aoring

o his poular an ofr p a manra Salins USSR is h in via

an logially ons u n ouom of Mars i as wih h r ai of

ur aurai sa rror purpor ly r v aling wih h n of w n

i h nu hisorial hinsigh h unr aisi an isas rron

nin nh nu uoianism of ommunisms hamions Opon ns

of a ial ia ma riaism aflia wih h naural si n s (his

inlu s a num r of s rn Mariss) som im s migh mp o

onur u h ghos of Salins favour ar foo si nis h Ukrainian

1 1 9 Ro,

L"

7-99



FR M SNIF S ALSM S ALIS SIENE: fTEN AND N W 29

gr

ooms Trom ys ko ys ko r pr s ts for Sov t sc c

t St r r s s for R ly Esg Socls s ol m ly

rrng

os v o rg ogmsm su rc pol mcs cycl

st

tutol mo uvrg prorv urg s.

Jus s gur of Stl s rv s tcommuss s ost sy

r ucoo surlyorrc of Mrsm s tr y so oo

o s ys ko s rv Eg lss

rtolzg r r cto of

v r

y coc vl ctcmt rlst p losoy of tur

sc c Tmro ots out t ck of strog co ctos

S 's p osopc rgs ( poug s ocr cm to

u m' Mrsms sc c k m rsms from

Eg ls troug t oys kost sc tsts loso rs of

sc c t Est.

vs

ot cht r of Te Dilec ic

Biog

t T Prol m of ys kosm s k to r t c p

s

y mo uvr of pog th gur of ys ko so s o for

s

potclly g rous t l cully potl ss y mg of

Mrsm sc c . or pl or of goo r sos o s lfr s c

g Mrst cc s s v com llg t s tMrst

rgum t tt us s Slsm to co m Mrsm

6erhup

Ay

Mrst o urs rou os ys kosm s corr so

g

sc tstc suvrt of St sm o loy th ct sm of

rgum t gst l ctclmt rs t pprortos of t turl

sc c s soul sm Sm lrly ot oy must oys rcl

l fss c s f l g r ssur o rl s lfg to y l

tos to t r rgt o y ryz th ms v s to cto

y c s l ssly pologzg for t ms r s of R y Estg Soclsm

Mrs

tk rs t th of rs c tury ougt o stop

syg y r sorry for trg y of ys kosm . B for og ts

som cot mor Mrss l rst v to l r pr ct t

storc trut tht th y v stg t sos of ts

t r ucoscous gult for qut l lr y.

A s mom cot r sst pssg voco of l r

B m 's s rv ly fmous c l rt ssy T s s o

Plosoy of Hstory vok B m t ts uctur co cto

0 Heen Sheen n h opy

in:A Citl y Th nn Y

(Amet Humn Bk 99 nd en pp 0�.

Timpn On p. ; Jeph Stn Diltl n i/ 1 (ew

k nten Pbher 90 pp. 7 5- 7 0-

en nd ewntn i ll Bio pp. 6-96



30 ADRIAN NS N

with two os vations s mling ach oh . Th st of h s is ma y

Maxist Alf Sohn R th l I n his ook

n eec u and Manua abour

h

un sco s th w ightin ss of th stak s of his histoicalmat ialist

g n alo of math maica an nauasci ntic mo s of thought y

cont ning that socialism in th as nc of a s lfcitical Maxist ass ss

m nt of sci nc an chnolo th a ns o g n at into in galitaian

t chnocacy3 (y 9 wh n SohnR th l ha compl t his

manuscip 4 this g n ation s m to a fait accompli in h US SR

an its sat llit s) . Th s con an simila os vaion I hav in min

h is ma y nonMaxist Mch l oucault n a th n of th conclu

ing ctu of his Collg anc cous of 9776. This s mina

s ssion ( 7 Mach 976) is th occasion on which oucault intouc s

th notions of iopow an iopolitics 5 which as is common know

g hav com inc ily inu ntial in cont mpoa sociopoli ical

h oiing a th v n of this aca mic y a h chag s tha On

thing at l as is c tain Socialism has ma no ciiqu of th th m of

iopow .

t

th y all g ly ooms its lf to main impison in th

sam ss ntia sot of pow stuctu s holing sway ov th s n

capitalist wol too n oucaults vi w an a quat i ological citiqu

of iopow an its poliics l t alon a voution against it ha y t to

mat iali

8

In th Collg anc s minas of th lat 970s ( sp cialy th

cons cutiv annua cous s S cui T ito Population [ 977-7]

an Th Bith of Biopolitics' [ 9779]) oucault manif stly un th

inu nc of Al ksan Solh nitsyns 97

Gulag hipego

an paving

th way fo anc s p ntant xMaoist

noeaux phioph

isplays

what com s acoss as a l i at wiful ignoanc of h histoy an

th oi s of th multifac t Maxist taiion Mimicking a stal stan

a i a g stu h insinuat s with p haps caculat cu n ss that

3 SRee

eeu nd nu l bour p

3.

4 Ibid.

p

i.

ice Fucu, Socie n be dened

ure he oqe de Fn 97976 ed. ur

Berti d Aessdr Ftn trs. Did cey (New rk Picdr 003,

pp

393.

6 Ibid.,

p

6 1 .

7 bd.

pp

6-3

8 ice Fucut

Seuy oy Popul n: u he ole e Fne 97797

ed.

ce Seer s. G Bce (New rk Pcdr, 007

pp

10 -6 ice

Fuct, The Bh ofBopol: u he oge de Fne 97979, ed. ice Seer rs.

Grm Brce (Bsistke Pre cmi 008

pp

3 6.

9 Ricrd W he

f

om he Fenh neleu he ulul Re<ou n he £ y

he 96

(Pricet Price Uiersi Press 0 0

pp

3-



FR

SENIF I S ALIS T S ALIST SIENE: !EN AN N W 1 3 1

Mrism ou cou s rv s to ump tog t r wit t most or

r nt sp cts of R y Eisting Sociism

a

Stlin 3 Mor ov r

misr pr s nts Mrists s os ssiv y pr occupi in istoricly unorigi

nl n unimgintiv wys wit t stat qu t c ntriz ns m

of t orgns of gov rnm nt ministrtion

3

oucault's antiMrist po mics an provoctions si n it r

nor

SonR t l sow ny wr n ss of t fct tt strting wit

Eng ls

n continuing troug Di tzg n

Pl knov nin Nikoli

Burin Boris avovsky Mao Ts ung n many ot rs Mrism

(prticurly its non st rn strins) in fc s up to t cl l ng

of

ngging critic ly wit sci nc g n rally n t lif sci nc s in

prticuar or instnc iolo t sci nc of t living ws sumitt

to int ns

pilosopicl scrutiny an at politicl t y ot

sci ntists n nonsci ntists in t Sovi t Union from t 920s troug

t 90s for tt r n (wit ys nko) wors . Eng lss writings on t

sci nc s gv ris to now lrg ly forgott n traition in t piosopy

of

sci nc . T MrinEng lsin p ilosopica ori nttion wit

r sp ct to t sci nc s s n olit rat from t m mori s not ony

of tos wo consi r tis suisciplin witin piosopy to t

cusiv provinc of anlytic pi losop rs going c to t ry

tw nti t c ntury of t Vi nna Circ an Orig ut lso of t

vst mori of st rn Marists n mor roly stil Contin ntl

pi osop rs s a oos rg group 3

n s p r SonR t l

R y Eisting Socil ism tropi into an oppr ssiv ur ucrcy of

pr t cnocrats; n if s p r oucault r volutionry Mrismin

pow r i not mng to va t clutc s of iopow r tis c rtiny

ws not u s t ir rron ous ignos s sugg st to lck of conc rt

fforts (inform y t pilosopical sopistiction of il cticl mat

riism) to r tink from top to ottom t socil an conomic

rmications for iv ing ings of t compl o rlppings of poitics

n sci nc of (to r sort to Giogio Agm ns postouculin iopo

itic parlnc ) a

z

cugt up in

bo

n

bio

cugt up in

z

in wys

sci nticll

y poiticaly an piosopiclly pro mtizing tis v ry

istinction its lf N v rt l ss t inaccurcy of Son R t ls n

oucaults os rvations s r gars t pst o s not m n t y cannot

10 Foucut, Si, ioy, Poul io,

001; Foucut Bi ofBioolii

190-.

11 Foucut, Scui, Ti, Poul io

6; Foct, B of Bioolii

767 9,

7

Sh , i d h PiloJoy ofS, . - 6



2

ADR�AOHNSTON

act as signposts for pr s n an fuur rxism(s : tos arxists wo

n g ct o grsp t sci nc s wi grasp y m; t r n

pt of t conomic an pol itical signicnc of sci nic ori s

an practic s cnnot sf y r pr ss or ff ctiv y scap .

i r f r nc to B nmin I wou sugg st t Eng ss i ctical

ma riist ngag m nt wit t sci nc s an t crrying forwar of

tis pro ct primriy y Sovi arxiss in t rly tw nti t c ntury

is for t pst f or mor y rs of raicl ftist poitical tinking in t

s n imag of t past tat is not r cogniz y pr s n as on of

its own conc rns wic as B namin go s on to wrn tr at ns o

ispp r irr tri vly 33 In is sixt n foowing t sis on pilos

opy of istory cautions n /1 dd wil not sf from t n my

if wins. An tis n my as not c s o victorious

34 Hisoric

mt riism

la

B namin comats t s ng rs y rusing isto

ginst t grin 35 or ov r rxis isorica mt riis is lso

ol igt to rus isto of rxism its f gins grain a l as

from tim to im n sp cily in situations of crisis.

it t s p rtin nt B naminin worri s in min my rllying c to

r turn to Eng ls is motivt party y t unc n t op tat

uncov ring oscur grins of t past n is sympatiz rs ft

for t fuur migt quip gting l ftists in t r annow wit

pow rful n w ms in t wr agains a goaliz t cpitalism funa

m ntay r ian upon t nturl sci nc s o conomicy n

i ologicy. I strongly susp c tt turning sci nc into Trojan ors

on lr ay conv ni nly situa at aing rt of iopoiic

t cnosci nic capitalism is a muc mor promising strat for t ft

tan sticking xcusiv ly to cuturl i olo criiqu n/or urling

o ctions gins t ig wls of sci ntic fortr ss s from posiions

outsi t m As v H g ian knows ony criiqu s r lly wort

making r imman nt on s. In r surr cting t sci nticly min

Eng s I s k s B namin vryingy puts it to s iz o of a m mory

as

it as s up t mom nt of ang r 3 to tk a tig rs ap into t

past 3 to lst out'

38 an ring ack o igt n ov rsow isoric

1

te Beam Thee o the Phooph of Ht /lin tinJ: yJ nd Reion

ed. aah Aedt ta. a oh (ew ok: Shoke Book 969 p. 55.

bd p. 55.

5 bd. pp. 567.

6 bd. p. 55.

7 bd. p. 61 .

1 8 Ibd. pp. 6 1 6.



FR M SNIF S IALSM S AST SIENE: HN AND N W 1 33

s u nc

pr viousy nom s viru sp cr in h hisoric ps

u mor pr gnn hn v r wih possiiii s

nr

In h ry tw nrs c nury immn ny onv ring h sci nc s

o i cic m riism in rny rising h m o h igni of h s

h ir noions is n urg n imp riv un r h shows of h simun

ousy hr ning n promising risks siu n such sociy c nr

sph r s s coo g n ics h h n gricuur . h nic ric gh

ing

spiri of igh nhc nury r nch m riism mus r viv his

im in h gh gins n w church h of cpiisms shy gg

w chnosci nism (or in fmiir r nch h or ic rms

gh gins Ahuss rs h g monic ucion I oogic S

Apprus s

3 n/or Lcns nowominn unv rsi iscours 4)

i v his opion no on y o vis on h cic n sr gic

grouns of hrnos poiic n propgnisc prcic s inisp n

s o Grmscin wr of posiion (if no wr of mno uvr ) . 4 or

m his is m r of r cogniing h much of wh is r v y oys

sci nc s in n cui whos oscuri r n rs i no ss cu ui

m si s in fvour of MrxinEng sin i cic m riism (in

in wih Sv s chrc riion of h criic funcion of

Na urat

wih r sp c o h sci nc s 4 rwing ou his simony r quir s phio

sophich or c in rv nions) . ih h Mrxis insigh ino h

prisnship of ruhs in vi w (for h sci nc s s for oh r iscipin s

o civi n n uri r no synonymous) h ric f cn n

shou hv coni nc h n h oh inr n nonsci nic

ncrusions of i oogicy isor n isoring sci nisms h

mpiric n xp rim n sci nc s r no incorigiy compici wih

pr viing susquo i oogi s (Ahuss r) h irrion rionizing

of fuy minis r wors (Aorno Horkh im r ) n/or h

mchinions of iopow r (oucu/Agm n) . ns h sci nc s r

rip for oining in mov m ns of hisory srining gins h rri rs n

�

curr ns of h cpiis r n r in which h y hv non h ss

39 Luis Ath usser de d Idei Stte Apptuses tes twrds Ivestiti

nin nd hiohy nd Oh y trs Be Brewser ew rk th eiew Press 200

I )

p -9, 99 I 02-6

1 0 ques c

Th Smin u

n ook XV: Th Oh Sid of yho n y

-

, ed quesAi i er trs usse Gri (ew rk: W rt C 00, pp 6,

06.

Ati Gr sci on Nobook Volum

e d trs Jseph A Butiie (ew rk

Cubi Uiversit Press 200, Sth tebk § 1 38, p 1 09; § 1 p 1 ; Seveth ebk,

§16 6-9

12 Sve

N u in di liu

'

p 0



1 34 ADRAN J HNS N

rpiy mtur ov r th pst two c nturi s . 4 In r viving th Eng lsin

proj ct of th oriing th sci nc s through th l ns s of il ctic mt ri

lism, cpitlism cn shown to irrtionl not only in t rms of its

mn for li nting sumission to th nrchy of mrk ts, ut lso in

th strict st philosophic n sci ntic s ns s

In his 200 ook

iPing in he End Tim,

Svoj

Z

i k proclims, A

r suscittion of th critiqu of politicl conomy" is th

Jine qua non

of

cont mporry communist politics . 44 As h rightly mintins, most

Mrxists in th st uring th pst s v rl c s hv l ft th cor of

th mtur Mrxs thought y th wysi ( ccus s Biou of this

too) . 45 Mny of th s th orists imit Mrism to functioning s mtr

sol y for i olo critiqu t th l v of th stuy of cultur s. I n tri

tion Mrxist t rms, infrstructur f s wy n sup rstructur s

com th only oj cts of th or ticl int r st

I wou suppl m nt

Z

i ks procmtion conc rning th n c ss

conition for th curr nt r n wl of communism (i. . r p ting n w

Mrxs historiclmt rilist critiqu of politicl conomy) with cl

rtion of my own, r y signll ov th sin qu non of

cont mporry Mrxist mt rilism is r vivl of il ctics of ntur

nurtur y cutting g sci nc n cpl of comting th prcticl

n i ologic complici of sci ntists n sci ntisms with gloli

lt cpitism v r mor r lint on th m (i. r p ting n w Eng lss

il ct icmt rilist phi losophy of th ntur sci nc s) h criticisms

of sci nc us y Mrxists in th st to rtioni l vingNa urdiaek ik

y th historicl wysi r simultn ously too criticl n not critic

nough on th si of ing too criticl, such Mrxists, with n or

nothing purist soutism, constru th m n ss in cpitlism of

th mpiricl n xp rim ntl sci nc s of mo rni s wholly n

compl t ly compromising th s ls to th v cor ; on th si of not

ing

critic nough, such st rn Mrxists fi to tk up th struggl

ginst i ologic sci ntisms on th ttl l of th sci nc s th ms lv s,

conc ing too much groun to th ir oppon nts in vnc . In this v in,

impnro justily wrns, Unl ss it conrms n p ns mt rilism

(i

n th wy tht Eng ls sought to chi v in th Mrxist l) , Mrxism

4 SoRete,

u d u bu

.

144 Svoj

Z

iek ii

i t E

do: Veo, 00

.

8.

4

iou

Zk,

d oii T

orm ioJ T C 4 C Evto twete

Uiveri Pe, 009 . 8- 9-4.



R M

SINII S IALISM S IAS SNHN AND N W 1 35

com

s a phlosophy conn to arts grauat s or pur phosoph rs . 4

n

Th rin h Famiy riPa p and h S a

Eng ls, who cons

rs th mo rn sc nc s to crownng ach v m nts of human

cvaton, clar s as a a ctcan that v rythng cvlaton rngs

fo

rth S oul g , oul tongu v aganst ts lf,

contractory

Th raca ft of th tw nrst c ntu must s

an

ruth ssly poy th contractons of cont mporary sc nc an ts

xtrasc ntc ntang m nts, r m m rng wth con nc that th s

sc nt

swors can sc n multpl r ctons.

nns marv llous 1 922 artc On th Sgncanc of Mltant

Mat ralsm' , wth ts xpr sson of hs trust n th spontan ous mat ral

st l anngs of sc nc argu s for th mportanc of r crutng natural

sc ntsts as raca pulc r pr s ntatv s of ath stc al ctca

mat rasm (Tmpanaro lat r r t rat s th ponts ma n ths p c y

nn 8) . As r gars ths forc fuy propos programm , h mantans

that falng to r crut th s p s of nt l ctuals woul not m r ly to

mss an opportun t woul , for communst mtants, a s lf f atng

aanonm nt of th s know g work rs to th fat of comng ag nts

of

captalsm formaly now wth pot nt nt ll ctual r pow r an

sococultural pr stg ft to th r own vc s wthout prop r poltco

phosophca ucaton, guanc an or ntaton s ths as ng

tru

of sc ntsts toay as w ll as n nns tm th y ar pron to laps

ng nto an l nng th r support to oog s an sc ntsms ncrtcally

caught up n th sprtual cow s an chans nv opng stagnant

conunctur s 4 wsh to r ssu nn s 1 922 call for a kn of Soc

of Mat ralst r ns of H g an Da ctcs" - on ncung as nn

nssts, conv rt sc ntsts an th fruts of th r n avours as g st

y MarxanEng lsan mat ralsm.

5° Captasms sc ntc aour rs

must aow an ncourag to nlst n th ranks of ts oth r nt

l ctual an manual grav gg rs Th l ft stansto os a gr at al y

gnorng or shunnng such crossscplnary coop raton an solar

Tmpanaro nsghtfuy r marks that th ay xp r nc of th graa

ton

of sc nc from an nstrum nt of l raton to on of oppr sson .

16 Timpaaro,

O r

6

17 Fi dric Eg ls, T O_ of F my v rory S tras lik W st New

Yor: g ooks, 198 p 97

18 Tipaao, O r l pp. 1 1.

19 V 1 L , 'O t Sigia of Mliat Mat ralsm, i Sl Wrk OVolum E

w Yor It raioa ubls rs, 1971 pp 660-7

1 0 b p 66



1 36

ADR

HNON

gv s rs to t (on s an msta n) r uton of s n to

oo 5 ss sp rat y n to arn to sst ts un stana

l

ut non t ss ms ang ants nt mpus T our s

ov ru fo awak nng som of t mg a an for gnnng agan

w Eng s tat ar nvaua omra of Ma

Tmpaao, On r /i p 258



7

Remembering the Impossible For a Meta-Critical

Anamnesis of Communism

Fnk Ruda

1 pm i n ida

Aain Baiou

oay communism s ms impossi . An it aso s ms as if a that th

wo communism stoo fo houghou is history wl n v r agan xp

i nc som hing ik a n w ginning. ha th wor communism has

stoo for in histo thus far is as foows: ov coming h r afu

din

an sp caation

f labur

tha grouns th ivsion of soci no antag

onstic

cass s; a ff r n nonstatst form of organiaton; an nay th

uai of anyon wih anyon . But a th s charact ristics s m to

racay invaia y a pr vious at mps o pu communism no

practic an giv it a concr an practica xst nc .3

A ast his is what th sr ns of th ominant i oo - which on

migh ca wth Baiou mocaic mat riaism maon v wh r :

nonstatist organiation works ony in r ation to mark t ynamcs an

niviua

rots; th ucion of sp ciai ski s (without constant

s caation) among aour forc s s consi smpy a sign of

un r v om n an r f r nc o any form of quai oth r than th

astract uai of thos who ar a to uy th sam commoii s -

hat s o say tak of an ua of v on with v ryon s - is vi w

as

a mi w r ic of ai r ways of thinking. It is as if in 92 G org

I

Fo t i r critica ad lpful comm ts o pr vous v rsios o tis aticl I ow gratitud to

Eva a H ubac Mk wis, Mark otocik ad aro Scust r.

2 For t s caract ristics of commuism s ai adiou oug u pn i od 3

F bra 200

3

For ow to coc v o tis ivalidato, s la adou Pu-o pJ I pou ais S ul,

85) ad ai adio, The o ypoth odo w Yrk: V so, 200) . --0



38

NK R

ukcs was thinking o our own tim s rath r than his wh n h wrot

in

his

H ory an C! Co:

n this way th v thing that shoul un rstoo . com s th

acc pt principl y which to xplain all ph nom na . . nam l th

un xplain acti ci o ourg ois4 xis nc as it is h r an now

an acquir s th patina o an t rnal law o natur . . nuring or

all tim .5

hat w hav v n i it is xp ri ncing o crisis at r th oth r is

pr s nt v wh r as i t w r all that is thinkabl . h wor commu

nism thus nam s som thing which h r an now s ms to r r to

som thing unthinka . Communism is impossil this is what histo

has shown so it cannot (or mor pr cis ly shoul not ) thought .

hat happ n an was xp ri nc withi histo un r this nam

shoul not thought an on shoul not imagin anoth r communist

ginning. Communism stans or nothing ut nl ss crim s an nam s

nothing ut t rrorist gi s hat is is all th is an although what is

is not p r ct it is stth l ast worst imaginal option. On cons qu nc

o

this naturaliation o th giv n th r is might r n r ollowing a

thought xp rim nt o r ric Jam son in th olowing way. oay it

s ms

ar mor plausil to th maori o th inhaitants o this plan t

that a com t might hit th arth than that th r wl b th slight st possil

chang within th pr ominant i. . capitalist syst m. oay it s ms that

th only com t that might com not rom out r ut rom inn r spac origi

nat s in th gr o morally g n rat inv stm nt ank rs who ar

push to th ir g n racy y th v syst m th y ar working or o

Today, o migt ay o d moat mat at it o ti otio a adiou,

Lg o N· B_q n Et

2

odo w Yo: Cotium, 2009 pp 9; ad adou

mia i t y a aalb at t t mpaof

G og u,

Htv n C n COIo/. Stu ; {wt Dnt

Cambidg

MIT

, 999), p 7 T i wa t Ma i tly f d t a apitalit alm S Ma

i Captat Rn th ott•? at o oo 2009).

6 T w Yo of o t ' d a of Commui m aft odo ad i) ogaiz d

by

lai adiou ad Slaoj

Z

i wa tt d Commum: w gig?

7 Fom ti tatig pot atioa lo to daw t olowig oluio: i f wit t

ay fom of ol t wil o ay ui al good oy bougt out t wot, t oly pop tial

poito to aod wilg t ol t ad ui al good Ti poitio i d a to may oall d

'pi oop o to wo od l wig poitio today fom t F ' w ioop to

i om d ad ligt d yt m t o tiia li ob t lz) fom G ma G at

ploop Ma um i, fo ampl ) to t wpap l t G ma

T



RBRING TH P SSIB F R A A-RIIA ANANSIS UNIS

39

vo th ctstrophc ff cts of th r wrongong8 w n s goo

os of thc r spons n th upp r ch ons of soc whch cn

sy

ck up y th o ctv vuton of nc rtng g nc s.

In ths wy w woul g t r of th r tors n cou v hppy f n

wht woul nly glol cptsm wth humn fc .

But toy t s not ust communsm tht s ms mposs . On cn

sy n strns wthn phosophy tht lso s m to rcly

outt

n nvlt y hstory ho woul toy stl l f n ful

lown Crt sn H g n or Pltonst poston ft r l th fmous

turns wthn th o: th ngustc turn th p rformtv turn n so

on? r th mpl m ntton of th prgmtst n rx oogc h g m

ony

wthn ph osophc scours n th pr omnnc of orn

ngug

or nytc phosophy of mn

ou cou?

Int r stngy nough

v n cptsts toy s m to mt tht th r s c rtn som thng to

th thought of Mrx. Ev ron s ms to noy th (mor) vntg s

tht com wth ng crtc of th syst m wth ng t l st to som

gr ntctst . Mrx com s n hny v n for th rok r or

cons rvtv pot cn n xtoor v n for most phlosoh rs f nng

th pr s nt stt of thngs. But th sm cnnot s out Pto

D scrt s or H g s m to n stuton tht com s

er

th

v of th of communsm n n glol stt of ph losophy

whch s so th stt of n

af er.

Th phlosophc stuton s structur

n such wy tht w r stut

af er

phs n whch w w r l to

v n t rn s rr fut truths sout know g or th

usm of ng n pp rnc Toy y contrst w l v tht

nothng t rn cou tk plc n our worl; w v tht nonr tv

truths r unthnk n stck to th ss nt r ltv of know

g n to th sout nturzton of p rnc s h n w w r

st to v oth rws w w r so st l to v n

8

A frcig yi f ti mcim c b fd i Ai di, Ti Crii is t

Spctc Wr i t R? i di, Com Hyo pp 91-100

9 Sj

Z

ik of o C Ldw Yk Vrs, 2008), p 459. O c s

cim tt w tdy pric p ri f t cpi wi m fc i t gis f

ciim f t ic Ify r ic g y wi b d mtt wt y d; if y

t, y wi t b

0 As I s g, ti i wy ticpitism i g d dditi pitic

sppm I wt t sggt, fwig t rct wrk f di d

Z

ik, tt c pp

mt migt i i citiq f t pt simti f t igi 'dmccy t fm f

ibprimtiism d ti sggsti i ti fm c y tt i

m iou i of dmoccy imo bt s i d tt y ci of dmoccy

'

iou

i-ilm lid

i di, i

d E Ldw Yk, Ctim, 2005) p.



10

NK RUA

communsm as somng futal nal an nka Bu t su

aton as cang w sm o av no coc

o wt t xcpton of a anful of mltant tnks many fom

Sovna

fo

xamp

- wou oay a to fn a fulllown

Hgan poson wtout any staton

ng an Hglan s accpta

as ong as on gts of taumac kn of Hgl cal asout

knowlg o w know a w a a nt an av no accss o

anytng asolut tn posopca l ony possl

Hgan post on toay s as on a lal ang cntng fo xam

pl on s socal toy of muual cognton.3 at coms of

Hgl oay n s (a) ntptaons culmnats n n n a

poston tat saccs s most funamnta cams an snks nto sto

csm o latvsm o as to a yposaaton of soca oman n

wc t mos cucal mpatv coms to spct t opnons of t

o s a n unstoo as ng nomatv commtmnts an

on aws concuson tat soca

on of nsujctv s at

t ass of v (pocal) pactc4 Bu ts smply mans at all

t s a lav an stocally vayng paccs; notng ans

stocal can o w v s t lgt of ay altoug as on must

mmatly a Hg mslf mstakny v so. Only n ts

casat way s Hgansm st l fns toay an sam can

sa of most of t clams of Dscas (w ga to t sujct of t

cogi o5

o to caton an xstnc of tuts) o Pato (wt ga o

t scpln oganaton of a soc ul y guaans an t

posop kng - wo s cons to a cla symptom of Plato's

xpc totaltaansm; o concnng xsnc of somng wc

os not mmaly conc w snsl sp)

stncton twn tn an appaanc wn soul an

t oy vtng mnscnt of ualsm - s ug to as acally

1 2 I a m tnkig

of Slaoj

Z

i k, but aso of lad n ola and l ka upai

aadigmatically tis can b s n in l Ho t, The Sml Reoniion: e o/

Gmm fS/ C� ict

Cambidg , M ss 995 But it is also p s nt in t woks of

t 'ittsbug H g lias

14 sua lly t st is told as a d lopm t witi t istoy of pilosopy V as o g ts

c tai omati commitm nts plicit o mpl cit ) wit Kant, wat H g l adds is p cis ly t

social dim nsio - nomati commi tm nts a mb dd d i t dyami ol play o t indiiduals

siig fo alization of t i good T pobl m wit tis adig is tat it lat s t suggl

fo i f b n mast ad sa fom H g ls hnomwoloy to obj cti spiit, w as H g l

plo s, tis stuggl is al ady o com

15 long t s l s, scat s is usually not oy attc d fo b ig a dualist bt also fo ignong

t social dim sio of t costittio of subj ctity



RMMBRNG H IM SSIB R A MTARIIA ANAMNSIS MMUNISM

4 1

outat as mpossl a s th a of communism s ms to ar

in a stuaton that i s

er

communism an

af er

what

has n thought

y Plato D scart s an H g l un r such nam s as th I a

cogi o

aso

ut knowl g th cunnng o r ason an so on. It is ust not possil

as a phlosoph r to v op a moral th o of tol rant mutual r cognt on

an at th sam tim propagat communism as communsm cl arly

n v r

stoo for som thing that was ust r lativ to rant or mutual . It has

always n scanalous in som s ns n it always impli an organia

tion that n many ways was yon goo an vi to us i tsch 's

t rminolo; an organation or an may v n of t rni; an organia

ton

which at ast in prncip aim at puttng th mpossii o

in galitarian

stat m nts an actons into practic . So to ink th iagno

sis

of th politica omain

to that of th philosophica situation on can

claim

th folowing on ss ntia cat go that toay app ars in politics

with th sgn r communsm an in phlosophy wth th nam s of Plato

D scart s an H g is th cat gory of th impossil his o s not

imply that Plato D scart s an H g l ar communist think rs But t

impl s that what is suppr ss in th ir position is som thing that is also

attack un r th nam communsm som thing that pr s nt

its lf as nonr lativst an nonhistoricist which is to say: t rnay tru .

h

qu ston I want to ar ss h r s quit a funam ntal on hat is

th task of phi losophy in tim s wh n th impossi within politics an

phosophy athough n ff r nt gus s - pr vals ? h r to gin

wh n on tak s th qu stion o a n w gnnng of communism to a

phlosophical qu stion? 7

oay aft r th sapp aranc of i alism an what might call

th ath of Go all of us hav com mat ralists An th cont mpo

rar

y form of mat ralism that s off r to us has two funam ntal

aoms:

th r ar only oi s an languag s; or th r ar on y

16 O of th wot tck wih i h philoophicl ld i to b cc d o dlim. Thi might

iict tt, tody, dlim i woth d f dig Th q tio th i: \hic h dl m? h tc d

c ti impl icto of ti i Fk Rd, 'Et ig th Wood Ct i im o th 2 t C t to

com , fothcomig i onok tbl, 20 1

7 Th q tio of commim ody, I it , h to b d t d fo mot philo

ophicl q io d ot poiticl o T tig it di ctly politic tio wold l d ih

ito

it ogi o m cho li fo wht h b p i c d d thi m wth i hitoy

d

th th p ci hitoicl ittio w i i g ct d; o it wold b di ct cl l fo

cio whic gi l d to bld to t gl coodit of th itoicl itto o to

ctio tht t th m tim do ot l ly chg ythig I hv tt mpt d to d lop ditictio

b tw p doctio d ctio folowig dio d

Z

i k i Fk Rd 'R m mb ig,

R p tig Wokig Thogh Mx: dio d

Z

i k d th R ctlizio o Mim i

R neonl oJoh 202



1 RtD

iniviuas an ommuniti s 8 I aism is pass ov r an if on als

som on an i alist on usualy m ans that this som on has not y t

n prop rly uat in th laws of th ont mporary wor Mostly

th y s m to fools with in th

ivory tow r of philosophy h r is no

hoi ut to a mat rialist As Baiou not on of th most asi

imp rativ s whih morati mat rialism r li s upon is th folowing

liv without an i a iving without an i a is th pr ominant groun

work ommon to all slogans along th lin s of Enoy without limits B

xil an so on But a li f without an i a impi s th r ution of

this v ry if to m r survival.

At this point on might ask: hy is th r a pro m with th mat

rialist onvition th at man is una to iv for anythi ng ut his own

int r sts ? Alr ay th arly Mar ritii on ff t of this sort of

i ology y ins isting that apitalism r u s al human animals to th

sustratum of th ir animali

Although a lot of things s m to hav

hang toay morati mat rialism l as to pr is ly th sam

r sult But how is this possil as w s m to at in a quit human

mann r whil purhasing Appl prouts onsuming Staruks

off or noying int rn t porn? irstly y way of iagnosis I want

to argu h r that th r an an is a r gr ssion from humani to

animai th r an a (r utiv ) privation . But I also want to

f n th following th sis whih is on ruial laim of wh at I all

me acr cal anamne :

th r is no r lation tw n th human an th

animal In a mor ial tia l mann r I want to argu that th r is no

r lation tw n th human an th animal ut th r is som thing

l ik a human anima l whih th r for is th moim nt of thi s v ry

nonr lation tw n th human an th animal.3 Human animals ar

moim nts

of this nonr lation so th r is no

pure

nonr lation

whih is important to ar in min his th sis will om l ar r in

18 S ftt 4

1 S , f apl adiu Cmmui Hyh� p 67

20 ti i pcily wat livig witut a ida a liv ly wit gad t t atifati

f yur lfitrt ad b a lfk g gtit fr ayig l i by diti t pbl

2 a bviuly tikig f Max 1844 auript S al Max The m d

hhi ui 4 d he Cmm�

w Yk: tu, 88).

22 O a d a itrig cpari b t capitai tuati f t t t

tu ad u i ai adiu, R<e e � Ce 6 ai: ig, 20 ),

pp 7-27

2 av a dvlpd ti i y C Aim be ii ? A Qui fhhy ee

ftcig)

24 i rtat t kp i id if t t fa it ai - dait tap. T ca

vr b tig iply ua witut t aial ubtratu T clai tat w culd b fully

ua a t dfd t ida f abiig u v bdit, wic t t b a vy



REMEBERING

HE IM SSIBLE R A META-RITAL ANAMNESIS MMUNSM

43

th

v lopm nt of my argum nt an wl l l a m to th laorat on

of my c ntral propost on ph losophy toay n s to tak th form of

a me acr caL anamne.

nmaL Humanm and he BMa erLm of he oJ

Bu

a he ex ence a man beng who Lve meLyfor enjoymen however

by

he mh be n h repec hou have a vaLue n e even a a mean

o

h he a heLuL a pLe o o he who we Lewe conceed onLy

w h enjoymn becae he par pa ed n aLLg a n hugh ympa hy

h aon cou zeer be peuaded.

Immanu l Kant5

hy toay ar human anmals r uc to th r anmal ? As s w ll

known

Baous th ss s that captalsm s th r gm that tak s s r

ousy th fact that man s aso an anma . It off rs a pathologcal (n th

Kantan s ns of th t rm) mo l of v ryay f an l as to an un r

stanng of th su ct that c ntr s on ts anma consttuton ts oy

snc o s can n an ar th r y natural all n a

v r

y antSpnost mann r s m to know v ry w l l what a oy can o

an what t r qur s to f l w ll. h cont mporary captalst a of th

suj ct s thus a osu ctv mo l of mo su ctvty an ult

mat ly man s cons r to a p wthout f ath rs whos charms

ar not ovous Captasm r uc s vry

body

to ts comm rcal

capact s ts partcuar n t r sts to ts small sr s an f tshsms an

th r y prouc s a g n ral comm rcal anmal. As Marx alr ay

clam wh n h spok of th work r who s r uc to th m r func

tonng of hs stomach captalsm pr s nts an a ncompassng syst m

that r uc s v ryon own to hs oly anmal an thus pur ly

organc consttuton.

�

H nc th cont mpora mp ratv s to lv on 's l f n a pur y

oy ths s to say anmal mann r wthout attachm nts wthout an a.

Th mag of human that captalsm pr s nts s a hstorcally sp cc

prob mti o ptio Som w log t li t it tig - bt o l probl mti - poi

tio o mb t d rdr b itt d. S Gy rdr d Cti mb t L

1toli d I rolutio

ri G t 97

2 mm l t Critiu oth Por out Cmbrdg C 2000 p 9

26 S i dio k Rd d Vl 'Wir m d rmtiv g r t

i

i dio, Dritr 1ti1 i.tjr d Arm tiomu rli M rv 2008 pp 45.

27 li dio,

t: A1 y1 th dt o

don w ork V ro, 2001

,

p 12 .



1 "� RUDA

onstrution

n n i ologi int rpr ttion of wht oy is (whih

is

s upon th onvtion tht th r is som thing lik th on oy8

with whih on liv s) . Th simpl ontinution of if i. . survvl ntils

tht w put in th postion of pssiv su ts n on n sily

s

why signint num rs of pssiv vot rs for mp r th r y

onsi r to mor importnt in pol itis thn r l militnts ht th

pitlistmt rilist i oo prou s is th strt qui of

ini

viuy iruting o ti nim oi s tht shr th sm form of

(iologil) onstitution n n irut in th sm wy tht o ts

o An th y irut in wht for Bou is th ont mporry nm for

th nonworl tht w iv in : he marke This is why mory m

th ml m n ustoin for ons rvtiv oigrhy whos min (n

oft n llios ) usin ss is to gur its own t rritory s nims o

un r th usurp nm

or3

It is this r ution tht susp ns th

worl imini sh s it n v s hin m r nvironm nt whih t

th sm tim shoul giv l of us us for on rn. In th lst instn

this yi ls th humrum lptrp of nvironm nt or humn rights

on rns tht pr s nt th ms lv s s ss rting rights of th sp i s. An

this is us th r ution of humn ings to th ir nim sp s is

los ly link to on thr t ny sp i s f s om stition or th

simpl st n gtiv nition of sp i s is: tht whih n om sti

t . An th mo of mortimt rilist om stition s prt of

its i ologi pro t is pr is ly suh nturlst r ution to nim

i whih I wnt to ll

animal hmanm

Anim humnist if is

su tiv y impov rish i f v n wh n on hs th onting nt luk

of ing o tiv ly quit w l off. It is lif without n i or in

oth r wors i f without thought 3

28 I r r r o bri lia formulaio o a o ss o body as d scrb d i or zo

Ci sa, T arisas Morl ovisoir (upb is d p scrip

29 For a r cosrucio o Sarr a disicio b w aciv ad passiv umb rs s , fo

ampl lai adou Pcke nheon Fg f P r !oph (odo w ork V rso,

2009 pp 15

0

adiou: [M]ark is am o a word wic is o a wold ai adiu 'i losopy ad

W agas T rrorsm adou nte Thght (odo/N w ork: oiuum 200 p

1 62. T r is v som w rd form o opaga aimism ivolv d r , as idioms lik mark s

ar o sais d ad similar omipr s sayigs idica .

1 la adiou T mocraic Embl m i Giogo gamb, la i adiou, ai l sad

ad W dy ow J ac Nacy, Jacqu s Raci , Krisi Ross ad Slavoj

Z

i k Dm n

h t te (N w ork: olmbia Uiv rs r ss 201 1 , p. 8.

2 i mal um ai sm as ca b s i a lo o dff r domais, do s o a mp o prodc ay

fom of oug, o oug s wa sads i coradicio o s v coc p also sold b cl ar

r wy capialisaimaumaism is fdam ally a docr of sa as, o modi

id gg s ormula, sa do s o i k.



RMMBRING TH IMP SSB R A MA-RIA ANAMNSS F MMNSM

5

Capitasm tus prou s nff r n t astrat an o tiv

oy

qua of all uman anmals m n t nvironm nt of

t mark t in wi t y av to omp t wit on anot r An tis

mat ra prouton of n ff r n - v ryon oming a s fs kng

anmaoy tat tri s to t tt r pr ator33 works v n tt r

aus , to us St p n Jay Goul's t rm,34 t xapt t p rf t stat

form to

r aliz it, nam y moray. Toay t v ry form of moray

s ont on y t apita st ont nt, an t v form of apita ism

s ontion y t morat ont nt Captaist ont nt in mo

rati form pr s nts ts lf n t g mony of nt r sts an patologial

sr s, an nal y in t astly onsttution of man, tat ominat a

ont mporary poital isussions uman rigts at s, an so on.

Ts s an ff t of wat al

animaL humanm

D morat ont nt in

apitalst form is pr s nt in most of t pratal nt rpr tatons of

morati prn pl s for xampl , of fr om as a fr o of t

work r to s l s own laourpow r. Tis s wat morati mat ral

sm om s own to Baiou s rigt to mpasiz tat any stat is

inff r nt towars quai An t ont mporary aptalist mo

rati stat form organiz s t prou astrat onformi (of

nivua or ommuna oi s) troug t pro ss s of soall fr

tions tat ar iniff r nt towars al singularit s ELctin ar statst

m ans to

rgani in]'nc

an tis organz niff r n s iniff r

nt pr s ly wit r gar to any pont of t r a.35 But fr tons ar

toay t ms v s so as a m ans of t v ry r alization of fr om on

an vot for al tat is polit a ly possi rom tis on an inf r wy

toay t at gory of t

pibL

as om an nstrum nt of oppr s

son y soul tat ?

In

potis, t r lan on t possil as tr v ntua

ons qu n s3

T privl gng of t poss impli s tat on as always alr ay

opt for on partuar mo of ang ang as an xt nsion of

t possl

33 Ti m t b t pr c tartig pi fr utt r actay pj ct J Gray S

D Thugh 1Hum J Ohr Anim N w Yrk: Farrar, Strau

&

Gru, 200)

3

St p Jay Guld, A Crucal Tl fr vlutia il, i

u l l Ju

73

1 1) pp 365.

35

A adiu c claim d 'T vt i i c ctradictry t picpl , jt a it i t v

id a f maipati ad prt t Alai adiu, Plm d/N w Yrk V r, 2006), p 1.

3 6

I am r r f rrig t argum t adiu d v p d i i mar S tr t mp.a.fr



146

FRANK RUDA

2 . hs proc ss of xt nson mpl s

that ual can ony

conc v

of n a graual mann r as a graualy r al stat of th xt n

r gm of th possl - h r on shoul r m m r th r nch attl

c: Tou c qu boug n M ug ot v thng that mov s s r .

. Sng wth th possl thus n vtaly mpl s sng wth th

prmacy of n qual ov r qual for th r s always som thng

that s ms mpossl n a gv n r alm of th poss .

hs s caus sng wth th possl mpl s that a chang of th fram

work of what s ms poss ts lf com s mpossl . It syst matcally

com s mposs to transform th stuaton n any oth r way than y

xt nng th possl But on th r y ns up wth a hstorcally sp cc

an crcumscr r alm of posslt s that can actualal o

xt n n a s mngly nnt mann r what s possl s alr ay to

acc pt a nal lmtpont of ths v ry xt nson. hs s why communsm

an organaton of th mpossl of n galtaran stat m nts h r an

now - s ms mpossl snc ths s pr cs y what communsm n ts

hsto stoo for But such an organaton smply cannot r ach y

a graual xt nson of th possl

oay th possl s a stal statst r gm that although t constantly

s ms to chang n v r truly chang s . In oth r wors to s wth th

r gm

of th possl s to support a r turn to th actua stat of thngs

an to stck for v r wth th actual an xstng stat hs s why t

mpl s a crcumscr r alm of thnkal.3 Cons qu nty th all g

ly nnt xt nson of th possl s n c ssarly lmt an nt

y som thng whch app ars to mposs wthn a gv n hstorcal

stuaton. A such an mpossl com s natural ust as much as

th

r gm of th possl att mpts to natural ts lf.

o a y what s ms possl s thus to r oul th mposs l:

th r s a g n ral mpossl of changng th laws of chang . . th

xt nson of th possl - an ths aways mpl s th mposs whch

tak s ff r nt concr t forms of organng mpossl n galtaran

stat m nts. hs s why communsm s toay pr s nt as mpossl -

startng wth th possl m ans of naturalng t an of naturalng th

mposslt s t ncount rs. In oth r wors th mpossl s smply (. .

for v r an ontologcally) mpossl . All ths s lnk to th fact that

toay th most funam ntal paragm of th possl s th natural. or

37 Syn aaru, Anthpge dll /01 ari S uil 1996



REMEMBERIN THE IM SSIBLE: R A META-RA ANAMNESIS F MMNISM

7

naturalation signi s that th on ly oi ntaton off r y th possil is

nscr in th axiomatc quaton

possi = xst nc = inivua = oy38

hat s possl is what s oily an inviually natural hat is

possi is what s th r in th oi s that xst as naturally t rmin

y th ir n s an so forth. his capitalist mat ralism of th possil is

in

th ast instanc a mat ralism of th oogcal an animal oy that

stans un r th paraigm of th natural th naturai possi . It is a

bioma er of he pob

3

So to r sum :

ani hua

is th

ir ct outcom of th i ological

fr

am work of mocratic mat rialism which mpi s a mat raism with

out

an i a his l as to th most raical which is to say mat rial

r ucton of humans to th ir animal sustructur an pr s nts an

mm ns

prouction an organiation mor ov r an aministration of

niff r nc . h astract uniformi of iniviual an coll ctiv circu

lating oi s prouc s an astract quiva nc an iniff r nc tw n

th s v ry oi s ut what to o wth ths situation philosophically

sp aking? h answ r I want to off r is that ph losophy shoul not wish

to

r main conn to aca mia an aoi coming a pur y aministra

tiv

iscours of know g th unv rsi iscours so to sp ak.

It

must th r for ngag philosophy.4 I t has to nt rv n to clari th

stuaton an t can o so aganst th ominant curr nt if it assum s

th

task of a

me acri aL anaz.

If th qu stion of a n w ginning of

communism

can tr at as a phiosophical qu stion it thus has to

tr at as a qu stion of a m tacritical anamn sis So my main task in th

following is to laorat what

me acri aL anamn

s an th n to sp ci

38 adou, f

/

p 2

9 T al o wy, a upa mak d, tatg fom t gm of t pobl , o ot mpo

a ou o t fom of atualzato tat v tual ly ou a am of u : a am tat

p u a a atual at g b d to ou dvdua bodly apa ad lf tyl .

S

l ka upa h

On n On o Maau t/odo, MIT , 2007 pp 7

0 tg aaly of t poduto of d ff aptalm altoug fom a at

oadal akgoud, a b foud G og oma, nn n Ghft E krh

Annung "

Fakfut Sukamp 1 991

I att mpt d to dat t b gg t ploopy of uv dou today ,

wtout ay doub, wat al d aaytal poopy all pagmat v o) Ev oug

aalyta pl oopy od t lf to b dal tal a all b om l a t followg t ot,

a

t ma wt a lmt d m of dal tial tk g t avod tkg wa I al a

lt

lt n nn-lt)

2 T by, ad mayb oly t by, t ao but b o Sat .



8 RAN RUA

is r aton to communism . H nc h foowng wi rst pr s nt c ran

pr lminary r marks on a

m a-cri ica anan of co

3

H nc th m tacritical anamn sis of communism as that which

answ rs h u stion of communisms n w gnning is its lf ust gn

ning Bu I want o sart from on v ry simp u funam nta insight: if

toay communism s ms impossil any m tacritical an anamn tc

approach to communism has o a

wth what s ms impossil .

wan

to clam that a m acriical anamn sis consists of thr iff r nt f aur s

which will aso structur this chapt r:

. an i alism without i alism4

2. a ial ctic of ial ctics an nonia cics45

a Cart sian stanc for th tw nrs c ntury (to com ) .4

Philosophy as m tacritical anamn sis is som thng hat canno u

consi r as n a stric parlin r ationship wih h phiosophica

stanc of Baiou

da wi hou eai o hioophy

nane

On can claim that giv n th pr ominanc of mocratic ma riaism

toay h ol i ologica atl o put it in Althuss rs rms tw n

i alism an mat rialism that always t rmin philosophy through

out its histo is n rng a n w phas . ith th comp wih ring away

of i alism on can claim ha h spit tha s para i alsm from ma

rialism is now r app aring within mat riaism. his is on possi

r n ring of how on migh conc iv of h istncon tha Baiou has

introuc tw n

deoc ic a er

an

ma ria diac ic

If i a

ism is impossil th n th ony thinkal opton is mat rialism ut as

4 A tis s uc or aboratio I w at pt to pr s a or tai accou of is

i a boo pr paao w workig ' if c a R p io wic ow o Aaro

Scus r), aiy focusig o scart s, a, H g l, Marx, a uliat ly ao ( sp cially is

way of cal gig t sopis)

v op is uc or x siv y i y ' alis wiout I ali s aious Mat rialist

R aissac Ael k fortcoig)

For a og r v rsio of is, s y 'Tkig oit ics ocr y N gatio, Afraio a

ia ctics of ia ctics a No ial ccs, i T1kg RJg R 1g Te ol· l fort

coig), also avaiab a blip

6 S y 'Eiig t Woos

7 S Louis Atuss r, 'iosopy as R vouioy W apo, a arxistsorg; a Aai aiou,

iosopy as C aiv R p titio, a lacaco



REMMBERIG THE IMP SSIBLE F R A MEACRIICAL ANAMNESIS F C MMUNISM

9

matrasm s stl a ologal atmosphr48 as Baou puts t o

mght assum that th rptto o th stto tw asm a

matralsm wth matrasm ts rgs orth a alst matral

sm a a o a a propr matralst matralsm I wat to arg o

th otra that th otmporary srpto of th stto t

al

sm a matralsm th oma o matralsm tsl shou

r

am a mor alta way To ut a log story short: I wll lam

that ths rptto otas a momt o rvrsal

- a momt whh

matralstaly rvrss th stto goo a a matral

sm th matrasm tslf; or ttr: t trous a momt of torso

wth matrasm ollog Baou I wll argu that morat mat

rasm a urstoo as matralsm wthout a a as

ma eriam

wi hu ieam

a that ay matralst atal approah shoul

ov of as a eam wi hu ieam

A

goo pa to g a fou Dsarts O s a rmark

al

passag hs

ei a n n i hipy

whr h asks why t s

that w a v a a A o part o th aswr h gvs s that

thr a rror a mstak u to th attrut whh w ar th

most Gok th rom of our w I a mstak aus I am

r

wthout lmts h th w s osr ot rlatoally ut

strtl

y ts Go's wl os ot sm ay gratr tha m

.

4

9

But

ths

mas that th rom of my wl s so t that t a v wl

o

raay ompat thgs at th sam tm I ato to ths

Dsarts stats a famous ttr rom 1 6: A rthr f Go w

to mak som truths ssa that s ot to say that h w ths o

ss or t s o thg to w that thy ar ssa a aothr

to wll ths of ss or to sstat to wl t. Sartr sst

that or Dsars Go s so r that hs from shou t

wth

raa otgy; rom s th otgy ofratg a wor

o way or aothr Dsarts's pot s that my wl (whh maks m

Gok) s so fr that t a wl A a otA t th sam tm Th

8 diou

Lg W

p

Ren Descres, Pph y d p ndinpos/idge: Hce

Pulishing, 2000), pp 12-5 Ths coningency of ods free wil is fundenly ecess

Ohewise he woud e oged o cree rhs nd one wold hus suppress he coningency of

feedo involved Here oe igh g ce resn heri ge i e works of speclive reis s

lie ei lssou Desces ws e s p losoper o insis rdicly o he necess o

coningency

50 Id, p 220

5 1 Jen Sre resn Freedo, Srre, Lty PlJph y Vncouve

olier oos, )



SO

FA

Cart sian ph iosophy of th Su ct th r y gins y confronting what

h articulat s as follows: I can fr without ing inclin oth ways.

In , th mor strongly I incin in on ir ction th mor fr

my

choic is. h n no r ason inclin s m in on ir ction rath r than anoth r,

I hav a f ling of iniff r nc that is, of its not matt ring which way I

go an that is th poor st kin of fr om. 5

His point is that on is on

raicaly fr wh n on tak s si s; fr om is si taking, an not th

opportuni to s l ct tw n possil choic s.53 It is on r al, r ali ,

in a cision not in th astract xist nc of to si s of a choic , in

which on might w ll for v r 54 r om consists, as on might say with

Baiou, in tr ating a point, 55 in a cision which con ns s all th a g

iff r nc s into on singl choic . An fr om consists in choosing an

pursuing th cons qu nc s of such a cision.

or

D scart s, this m ans that I can ony rr wh n I hav alr ay

misp rc iv th natur of my fr om This is th cas wh n I mistak

my own natur as possiii to wil A an otA at th sam tim So,

wh n I ony r main in th omain of this y and no at th sam tim , I am

not fr This is th r ason for m to com iniff r nt an this is on

way to un rstan th funam nta ff ct of th cont mporary mo

craticmat rialist i olo. D mocratic mat rialism is a

b-ma ra of

h po of iniff r nc aoishing tru choic . It is a r gim of th A

an onA at th sam tim

On can thus arn from D scart s that phi losophy has to int rv n

against this (or tt r against any sort o iniff r nc .

/ophy

ngagd phophy aga ndnc

an, athough I cannot v lop this

argum nt in tail h r wh n Baiou caims that politically w ar in th

sam situation as Marx in th 0s,5 what on can inf r is that in a

c rtain s ns phiosophicay w ar in th sam situation as D scart s in

th 60s or philosophy has to cr ativ ly r p at th Cart sian g stur

against iniff r nc I will r turn to this point.

o r sum as soon as I f l I am oing A, ut n v rth l ss o onA

as soon, to tak up

Z

i ks xamp , as I think I partak in a co ctiv

2

escres i l y 12.

As he hs i [The oe I inc ed ord one direcion . e ore freely do I choose

h direcion. id.

The nsisece on he ossil i o hving cho ice of o inle oions is herefore lso

h eds drecy o indecisieness. See Descres ysis of his i n Ren Descres, i

ft Sul m

ndiolis Hce, 1989

o his see diou i , 978

6 diou, Cm� Hyp� 2960



REMEMBERING TH E M SSIBE R A M EARIAL ANAMNESS F MMNSM

l

proct wh l uying a mochaccino a t Starucks an conciv o this as

th v ncarnation o my rom

I com inrnt. Or to put this

into

mor ialctical trms i my own rom is that which maks m

Goik it is prcsly not somthing natural (or naturalial) as toays

mocratic matrialism claims; rathr t is somthing which in mysl

although

am a&o a natural ing is anti or vn anatural5 it is th

othr th inhuman within th suct. rom is my natur an it is that

whch

maks m Gol ik; ut Go is th crator o natur an thus Hs

an

also ncssarily my rom cannot simply natural So Dscartss

point is that

han eing a fe eing whoe e na u

o hing ana u

But this nals thm at th sam tim to misprciv thir own

anatural natur in a way that suspns this v (anatural) natur y

naturaliing it.

Thr

s no rlation twn th human an th anima thy ar two

rnt sustancs as Dscarts woul say; ut thr s such a thing as

a human animal which is an moimnt o this nonrlation An

moimnt mans thr is a matrial incarnation o this withoutra

ton o a nonrlation. An this momnt o nonrlation is an

moimnt o rom a natural incorporation o somthing anatural.

From

is not an nvr will a natural givn which amounts to saying

that it is th anatura.8 Against th naturaliation o rom which s

th ruction o human animals to animal momnt unr mocratic

matrialism on shoul insist on th ncssa anaturali o rom

which

maks th human animal into a

human

anima. rom thror

mans a tru choc har work sciplin an strict organiaton in

pursuing its consquncs . This is what m ay unsurprisingly commu

nism was aways aout.

On might also say that toay mocratic capitaist matrialism som

how works lik th

gen man,

th vil gnius o Dscarts civing

us

aout prt much vthing. May it is th most vil gnius imagi

�

nal as capitalsm taks th oysoul istinction an xtrapolats th

oy. To put it again into mor Cartsian trms in a autiul passag

rom his

Medi a

h rcts on th cogito rgo sum proo I am

xstthat is crtain. But or how long? or as long as I am thinking. But

7 Thi i o poibl y of ud dig hy hu il bodi of h o

lo olog D c o c h h y l icopoo of o hig

l

8 Thi i hy o i ply f fo h b gg fo h o o o; f do

ly ipli hd o d dicipi

Z

i h d o d hi i ly i hi dig of

Syd oi S Sloj

Z

, Th Tu olyood ' lo



152

N A

p rhaps no long han that; for i mght

that if I stop thnking I

woul stop istng; an I hav o t a tha possiii as though t w r

actual . .

9

Th r uction within

capitalism migh sai to functon in

p rf ct alignm n with this argum n: capitaism c iv s us in such

a

way tha w as mom ns of h nonr latin w n th human an

th

animal think w o not ist in any way oh r han th oily Or o

put t anoth r way: w v ry w ll know that w st as

human

anmals ut

w n v rth ss act as f w w r not; w ac n a pu y anmalk fash

ion taking th position ofanimals that no ong r ar to thnk of anmals

tha hav n trick y th vil g nus of capitaism an its mocratic

mat rialist i olo

r on can also turn to Pato A on can clari what hosophy

in such tim s as ours can l arn fom an utt r i alist. I is this: phiosophy

has to assum an anamn cal task. Th sson that can alr ay arn

from D scart s can r n r in th fol lowng way: o avoi coming

iniff r nt th human animal has to r min that its v ry natu - its

fr om - is anatural. Human anmals ar an moim nt of th non

laon w n h human an th animal na uL incaa nJ

a-

na u;.

this anatural natur is only r al wh n it tak s si s

wh n t ci s upon som thing. This insght v n ma it o Holywoo

c nty As on of h charact rs of ack Sny r's 20 movi

Sucker

unch

sta s f you o not stan for som thng you fall for anything.

Bu wh n o s on r ally stan for som thing t is h r that th i alst

Pao can h p As Baou has un rlin Pato's funam na qu stion

as always n ha is a goo i f ? or: hat s a li f worthy of an

a? ' This was (an may sti is)

h

qu stion of phiosophy

qu s

tion of Plao An Pato th rst v r to f n th a of th i a

-giv s th following answ r to this qu stion: on o s not fa l for anything

ut stans for som thing wh n on uphols an clings to an i a A

as Baiou has shown on s v ral occasions an i a is aways an c pton

o h simpl ist nc of what th r s of inviual oi s coll ctiv

59

s s, hooph J yJ, p 20

60

I ubrib o

Z

i k i h Snyd r is o of h prdg gur s of h ol lywood

f uker unh n b id o b ipr iv obinion of g in h h r r pr c i ly

four p o b ion d o h foro of bj wh o o - igi ipossibi i

i nd r hin o n h ovi di y dr ss s h vi w liing: You hv ll

w pos you d ow gh ! I wil pr s n n ysis og h i rn Rud, W r

ll o irs i M l Asylu : Th ' ol ywood f d n po ory, i Frnk

Rud d n Vlk r, d , Art n otemporney ri diphn , 20 3 forhog]

61 S his s inrs on our jourd hui on ! , nr pssofr S lo Al nd

Koyr DJorng l to w ork olub Uiv r r s,

]

968





54 RANnDA

stnction tw n i asm an mat asm into mat iaism aong th s

v in s hs m ans: phiosophy as a ia cticamat iaist nt ps

must impy an

a wi u a

his is p cs y why phosophy

toay has to anamn tca. o any a (this s what on can an fom

Pato) is ss ntiay goo an this as to th foowing task phiosop

has to min us of this v fact

hat any non ativ i a s ms to impossi ight now o s not

matt . It has a ay s m impossi s v a tim s fo (an in

mutip stuatons) No on fo xamp ay i v n aica tans

fomation in th 1 0s. So phi osophy can an shou ca th imposs

an

min us that it has a ay tak n pac an mo than onc fo

cam possi But fo such an anamn tca task histoica sp cci

is of th utmost impotanc . On n s to tak into account a th xp

nc s th faiu s that a ay xist an an fom th m wthout

awing th h moian concusion of p ominant mat iaism

nam y that any att mpt to ai a un iv sa co ctiv goo ut imat y

as to th instantation of th wost imagina So athough it is tu

that w a thinking

af r

Pato D scat s an H g w hav to avoi

th oscuantism of a natuai possi /impossi istinction that

uc s v yoy to th anima sustatum an to a i f without any

co ctiv po ct o without any ation to som thng asout (i. . to

an a) . In ou hstocay sp cc conitons ph osophy has to an

anamn sis to min us that th impossi - un th nam of commu

nism - has a ay com possi in th past On can s why

D scat s H g an Pato com mpotant fo ths v y task

A ay D scat s phosophica m tho was ct against any

fom of c ption o fau n ugm nt; h famousy stat to out

v ything that ha v c iv him which thus cou not tust

any ong On can uc fom this that in a smia way phiosophy

can min us that th vi g nius of capitaism aso in its mocatic

mat iaist

guis cannot an shou not tust . Capitaist mocatic

mat asm att mpts to anmai th human anima o to humani th

anma asp ct of t. D scat ss m tho can mak us into sc ptics. A

on can nk ths out to an nsight H g fomuat n his

h J

wh h caim that th human is th ony anima that knows it is ony

an anma an u to this v y know g s mo than an anma .

66 For h logic of h Th ridorin, s Al dou i�letnpot( don Yor V rso

2012 ,

20.

67 S W F H g Ae.•thtc: ture, Fe At ol I Oxford Clr ndon, 197), . 80.



REMEMBERNG HE IMP SSBLE R A METARITIAL ANAMNESIS MMNSM

I

Phlosoph

ys task is to k p ths v know g av On can th r for

comin th Cart sian m tho an th H g lian insight wth what I claim

n s to r cov r from Pato

Phiosophys task s anamn tcal . It has to r min us of th fact as

on mght put it that w ar moim nts of th nonr lation an that

it is n our natur to al to o th anatural

th mpossl ; that w

ar al to iv un r an a Ph losophy tak s up th m tho of out

to

r stor th knowl g of th human animal an r min us of th a

of an i a I t is in ths way that it can mancipat us from any r uctv

naturaliaton

c of iac an Non-ec ic Me a- Cri ica hiophy

But to count r th anima humanist r uction of human ings to animals

som thng mor than this is n It s important to ask th folowng

qu stion

How ar w to assur th historical concr t n ss of ths anam

n tical task? H nc taking up th i a of an i a an v loping an

eai

wi u ieam

s on ly on part of phiosophys o toay On

n s

to r lat it to th pr cis historcal situation that w ar in As

Baou sugg st it is comparal to th situation Marx fac in th

0s. hat was his situation? No on kn w what communsm' or r vo

luton'

coul sign (as toay) an this is pr cis ly why h formuat t

as a hypoth sis This is what n s to r p at n a r p tition

of what Marx i in th 0s w n n w th s s on u rach (

mocratic mat rialism) a n w conomicphiosophica manuscript (i .

a

th o of ai naton an a th o of human sp c s ing) an a n w

communst manf sto8

Th arly Marx alt rst an for most with H g l Mor pr cis ly h

r work H g lian ial ctics an sp cially th conc pt of n gation.

Thnk for xamp of his famous ntion of th pro tarat as a n gation

of v rything that th ourg oisi inclu s in its

ntion of a human

ing If w ar truly n a compara situaton philosophy toay has to

8 his is necess il icion of he corison beeen Mrs siuion nd ours The erly

Mr, eore cohoring he nio sred oring on eerbc s one igh cli he

deocric erilis of his ie, on egel nd on bourgeois econoics (lhough his cn l be

seen s r o is ewoing of dileccs The resul s of h s re ong oher hings, essenilly

he heses on Feuerbch, he 18 Mnuscris, nd he n f our siuon i s corble our

s is o redo ese ors.

9

This cn be ound in Krl Mr, A Conribuion o he Criique of egels hilosoy of

Righ: In roducion 1 83) in M,

E ly

(ondon: engi, 1992) 23-8 I hve

resened reding of his denon in relion o rs (inhu ns in Frn Rud, ' u nis



1 56 F RUDA

r p at Marx. It has to work through a ctcs - whch s to say it has to

work through th motor of al ctca thought : n gaton Ths can rng

out a n w or r n w mat rast a ctcs a to conc v an w of th

mposs n our sngular h storical cont ons. But how ar w to r p at

th Marxan g stur toay?

In an mportant artc Baou off rs what s n my v w th rst

outn s of how to o so H stngush s thr forms of n gation that

prov ss nta coornat s for a r n w mat rast ia ctcs r atng

a of th m ack to th Arstot lan

e aphyJJ

Th r n Arstotl shows

that thnkng n g n ra s t rmn y thr prncp s: . Th princip

of nt any proposton s quval nt to ts lf to its truth cont nt;

2 Th prncp of contraicton t is mposs that n th sam cont xt

th proposton A an th propostion notA can tru at th sam tim ;

an Th prncp of th xcu m : for a proposton A t hols

that it s ith r tru or fals ith r A s tru or notA s tru . gaton

n

ths mo s structur n a twofol mann r. rst it has th pow r of

xcuson: th proposition A xclu s th vai of th proposition

notA S cony it pr s nts a forc cison th r A or notA s vai;

th r s no thr option or classca n gation n v r hos that y s' an

no'

ar vai at th sam tm ut aways hos that ith r y s or no' s

va But on can asly s that th r ar not only classcal forms of

n gaton. thn th fram work of th s thr prncpl s oth r logica

forms of n gation may in f rr

gaton s only classica wh n t follows th prncipl of contraction

an th princip of th xclu ml On can also think a n gaton

that folows only th prncip of contracton ut not th prncpl of th

xclu mi ; a n gaton that follows th prncipl of th xclu

ml ut not th princpl of contracton; an nay a n gaton that

folows n ith r of th two prncpl s. Ths ast form of n gaton los s a

pow r of n gaton caus t n th r pr scr s a cson nor o s it

xcu anythng it knows n gaton ony as ts f n gat . Th s con

form of n gation only folowng th prncp of contracton ut not of

th xcu ml s what Baou cals th

u o log of ega o

th

thr only followng th prncip of th xcu m ut not of

contracton h cals

pao e .

It s mportant to not that for Baou th cassca ogc of n gaton

R conid d o if ii g if in iljki Veik

X

(00)

.

5

0 S ain adou, 'T T gaion C d R•i 2 2008)

.

883 I a

wha adiou d lo in h ail a a guid fo y u qu n agu n



RMMBRNG M SSBL: F R A MACRIICAL ANAMNSS C MMUNSM

157

corr spons

to th scours of ontoogy or hs nton of ng qu

ng th prncp of xt nson s funm nt: n l m nt of s t

lo

ngs to th s t or o s not ong to t. A (th m nt longs to th

s t

s tru or fs , th r s no thr opton Th ff r nc tw n two

mutp ct s my thus fo ow on ly from th fct tht n m nt of on

s t s not n m nt of noth r. I f on cc pts ths frm work ths

m ns tht ny form of n gton tht compl s wth th prncp of

contrcton n of th xclu ml s not only clsscl ut lso

ontoogcl.

ht s th n th sttus of th ntutonst logc of n gton

ous nsw r s: t s th ogc of pp rnc Th ontoogc t r

mnton

of wht mut pl s cn stngush from how t pp rs

wth wht nt ns, wh th r t pp rs n th shows or th rght st

lght. Although on cn show tht th ntutonst logc of n gton s

consst nt

wth th clssc on som thng

cnnot pp r solut ly

n wth mxm nt ns n t th sm tm not pp r n wor

t s not tru tht, n th r m of pp rnc s, on hs to

c

tw n A n notA.

A multplc cnnot pp r n not pp r t th sm tm , ut t cn

pp r n multp wys or wth mutpl nt nst s. Th r s mutplc

of thr optons Th prncpl of contrcton s th r for v ut

th

prncp of th xclu ml s not: A cn pp r s tw n th

solut pp rnc , A n th solut nonpp rnc , notA Ths

form of n gton s th r for not ony ntutonst ut nk to th

scours of pp rnc : ph nom nolo

To

compr h n th thr form of n gton th prconsst nt on

followng th prncp of th xclu ml ut not of contrcton

on hs to ntrouc s s ontolo n ph nom nolo wht ou

cls n v nt. An v nt s r t s much to ng s to pp rnc On

cn thus sk 1 ht sort of mutpc o s n v nt nm (ontolog

clly? n 2. How o s n v nt pp r (ph nomlly

An v nt s contrctory multplc whos nton s tht t

longs to ts f t hs th prop r tht s xomtcly proht for

ny oth r mutpl Ths m ns tht, on th v l of ontoo n v nt s

n th r clsscl (t o s not comply wth th prncpl of contrcton

nor ntutonst . rom ths p rsp ctv t cn cl prconsst nt. An

v nt mght n ts lf nothng ut prconsst nt n y t ts nton

woul so comprs tht t s nothng ut th ns ml of th cons

qu nc s t wll hv y l . It s m sur only y th cons qu nc s t

wll

hv n to g n rt , n cn thus on ly thought wthn th



.

1 58 NK RUDA

lnkag of ing an app aranc s B caus , if th v nt is not a tran

sc n nt nt rv nton, on has to caim that th is nothng sustantal

that might count as an v nt On has to claim that th only things that

app ar ar th cons qu nc s that it has (an v nt s an v nt u to ts

cons qu nc s) So how o s an v nt app ar? Ph nom nally it is th

i nti of app aanc an isapp aranc at is to say: what t s sap

p ars

wh n v r on att mpts to sustantiali it an this v isapp aring

s its sustanc , its app aranc

An v nt is th vanshing m iator that app ars to paraconsst nt

a y s an no at th sam tim ; ut this o s not chang th fact that on

can onl ci what it will hav n f on consi rs wh th r it ha

concr t cons qu nc s or not h r for its (ontologically) paraconsist

nt form n c sstat s a (logcal) cision Wh n it s not cl ar f som thing

has

happ n or not, a cision a y s or a no is n An v nt

th for conur s th classical form of n gaon; it mans th pow r of

xclusion an th pow r of cision If an v nt is nothing ut th ns m

of th cons qu nc s that t yi ls, on can caim that th s ar

m asur y th fact that o ith r sai y s or no to th forc choic

that it n c ssitat s; an aso y what folows fom th acc ptanc of th

choic or th inff r nc towars it. An v nt constructs a iagonal

towas th classical intuitonist an paraconsst nt form of n gation.

But what o s that m an?

On can stat that an v nt is a su n chang in th laws that r gulat

th r am of app aranc Som thing that s m imposs now app ars

in th form of a form rly unthinkal possil ity h r for it is not

ir cty th cr ation of som thing' n w ut ath r th cr ation of a n w,

form rly non xist nt possiil i If an v nt w r th cr ation of som

thing n w t wou many stuctiv But it also mak s it possl to

int grat som thing o into th constructio of som thing n w or, to

put t iff r nty th ial ctical r ation is not simply tw n th ol an

th n w ut tw n th n w of th pr vious s qu nc (th ol n w) an

th n w (th n w n w) hs is why it is imp ativ fo any n w ginnng

of

communism to tak alr ay xisting xp r nc s into account in such

a way that it is al to int grat som thing ol into th compostion of

som thng n w.

h gr at st chang that an v nt can inaugurat is th transforma

ton of som thing that o s not app ar in a worl (for xampl

notA

o s not app ar in it) into som thing that o s app ars in that wol

(i. into A) . hs tansformation s v nta an folows th classical



RMMBRI H IMP SSIB: F R A MTARITA AAMSIS F MMISM

I 59

og of n gation At th sam tim th ons u n s of t v nt av

to thought through fom t s tv of th two oth r logs of

n gaton

th ntutionist an th araonsist nt logs. T ons

u n s

of th v nt a th r lassial (notA a ars inst a of A) or

intutonist

(notA a as as B w o s not r a th a aran

of A y th a aan of notA) Or inal ly, t ons u n s of th

v nt

a aaonsst nt In tis as , t funam nta fram work of

a aran s r s t , an th stint ion tw n A an notA s not

touh at a Fom th rs tiv of th wor v ryth ng r mains

t sam ; t v nt an th non v nt ar i ntia, an t r ons

u n s ar nul i. . th s no v nt.

If any wol of a aran s organz ntuitonist ially, th n any

raia form of ation - i any r voution has to foow t lassal

ogi of n gation. Ps uoations a g volutions follow th ara

onsist nt logi . Tru ation has to organz lassally, an molz s

t

oul ow of n gation - of lusion an for son; ut th

v lom nt of ons u n s of t lusiv ision tak s la n a

wol gov rn y intuitonist logi in whih multil ways of its mani

f station ar ossil Tis is a n ssa r r uisit to v nt gouning

t ons u n s in on sng y s o on singl no . An it as to

r mark that an v nt - u to th fat that it onjur s wthn th

h nom nal wor th fom of a assa n gation - s not sar y

v yon . ot v on answ s th fo hoi wt a y s; som

r man untouh

H n , on n s to tink a lation tw n th thr ogis, aus

t ontologiay araonsst nt v nt a as as lassia n gaton

(som ting has ha n o as not a n an t r s no thir

otion) wthn an ntuitionist fram work n wh a multlii of ons

u n s a ossl an at t sam tim t is a aaonsist nt

ooston to it aus not v on sar s th na y s as an answ

to th for o itin th ro u of unfoling t ons u n s

- wih Baiou alls l - t s always a t mtation to transform

th

y s or no nto a y s an no. Y s som tng has a n ut no

I o not hav to raw ons u n s from it. This s t araigmat form

of th araonsist nt t mtation or of f tshist savowal Su a osi

tion imi s r is y not to assum th ons u n s tat ar imli in

7 On adious concepion of deli, see Alain adiou, Beng n Et, pp 01 and y Von

der Teue als suraier Insuion, in Gerno Kaece and eningTesche eds En un

nttutn An1unn n Al n B u

Tingen: a·, 00) pp 69-96



160 FN RDA

what I c upon. Ths s why th r ar toay two mat ralsms: a

pacon en ac ionary ma eriaim of fake fedo and a fake Two

n th

gus of a y s an no' at th sam tm ; an a

e ma eriai dc ic.

A

ma er of organe innce

on on s an a

ma eri of equai

and a-na u {·eedo on th oth r.

Ths s why th r has to a contnualy p rp tuat s r s of y s s

an also why th only mp ratv of an thcs of truth s ntnu !

72

r om has to sustan an caus t tak s plac wthn a concr t

worl to sustan t on has to contnualy subtract from al th mprcal

ff r nc s natonal local tc. that app ar to natural n an for th

worl Th y s' has to r p at n th stuaton that has alr ay

chang u to a form r y s Th su ctv

e erina e ma n

(th

y s as I call t) has to capal of r p at ly sustanng ts lf to sustan

classcsm n th fac of a worl that chang s through th cons qu nc s

that unfo wthn t; ut how that s to on cannot for s n. But

on n s to uphol th pr scrpton that t wl l hav n possl to o

so Ths s what phlosophy r mns us of: v n tm s wh n th r s ms

to no possl of afrmng anythng w can afrm ths

pr scrpton

So th y s has to sustan although t s unfor s al how to o

so an t mght v n s m mpossl Only n ths way can th contn

g nt m rg nc of a n w poss l r troactv ly gan consst ncy; or to

put

t f r ntly only va th cons qu nc s that unfol st p y st p or

pont y pont . . through th contnu of y s s can an v nt

r troactv ly cons r as what t wll hav n or n ths s ns gan

o ctv. O ctv s only what wl hav n o ctv y th r troac

tv ff ct of th cons qu nc s that ar nothng ut th sustan classcsm

of su ctv t rmnat afrmaton n a changng wor that chang s

pr cs l

y u to th ff cts of th s t rmnat afrmatons On can

also say that

he con an uphoing of he ubjeciPe de erina e ara ion

he emergce he re ac iPey objc iPe cJa na n inJe 1e in ui

mework and again any paraco en ep a ion a dec i deeopen

a away wh

Ld

pcey w/1a re ac ii mean lie upon oe hing

ha no i elfdc ay deducibe naey an een .

If th cons qu nc s that chang th wor ar ng n r y an v nt

whch ts f s nothng ut what t wll hav g n rat n or r not to fall

ack nto xtrapolatng only on form of n gaton (th ntutonst on

72

Badio, Eti,

52



RMMRIG TH IMP SSIL F RA MTA-CRITCA AAMSIS F C MMUISM

1 6 1

o xmpl ) , o s to sst upo oowg m o m st

s to r m ma st t s to trou som tg t o

u

l ty - o ws t v t wou susz .

It

s s r lato w t logs o go ta p s s

mtr o a w l a o pto. I t s t s a a

to

o t p s o gato, s mat ralst aus os s

or os qu s prou y t r laos tw t ga

os. y s ts w t sk to ssry toay? B us o

stoal sp at oos us. ar tkg

er

Pto

so o ao upol a o po o rut or t a w os s

to

gv ;

af er

D sa s - Go o t guaao o ytg

er

H g l t s o s luolg o a, or, to put mor

smpy r s o r so stoy. or a ma ras, s ar t ar

o

gv s, o y stg tus, o o tut o story. Tus,

w

av to tk a way tat s aapt o storl sp a t

s so mt rlst. W t o s to prou truts. a t o s

r spos o ou ow sty. It mg app N w Yok, oupyg

a S t; t mg app Ar worl. Bu posopy, (r )

turg to Pato, D sr s H g , s o r m us w a al

to prou uts, t ra o s, us w av ay mostrat

tt

w . Tus o stl l s to r m aul to wt s

qu a to us y t o t m s o su o rut,

a o sou . oows rom ts s t mt rals l ts,

or r o to l k o t sp sortomgs o p vous at mpts

to lz t ommust ypot ss3 must osty m ts t

ts uolg s gou som g t, oowg og o ro

v, s pror to ltoug t s oy a ss , oy o tv , at

s v uolg. Mat l s l ts, or r o o otaz a

s - y ypossz oy o om o gto - s o

l s o ts ( rawg o os qu s) o ts

(t otg t m rg o a w poss) .

7 One canno u nsis a eve aep heo has een a adical ailue Oheise one

eains lind o e ve• hisoical condiion ha necessiaes ou eoing o dialeccal and ae

ialis hough - is s o say esseniay lnd in eoing e concep o negaon.

74 This is pecsely ha pevous odes o dialecical ining ave aeped in hose ve•

oens hen hey ee pu ino pacice. One aous hyposasis o eaple, as he enns

ode o dialecics Fo is, see aso Alain adiou Poics: Epessive ialecics n Ma

Poocni Fan Ruda and Jan Vle eds

Byond Potntlt Polt btn t PoJbl nd t

mpobl (ein iapanes 2 0 ) , pp. 22. See also Fan Ruda and Jan Vle Was hei es

ein

Mais in de Ph ilosophie u sein ? in Aain adou

oltk dnkb?

elin Meve 200,

pp 55



12

FRAN RA

his can aso instruct us with rgar to what

m acr a anamn

is

or Baou as w know phiosophy stans in th postion of mtaonto

o wih rgar to ts scinti c contion an of mtapoics with rgar

to is poitica contion 5 I want to cam that from this t foows ha a

phiosophy which tris to intrvn in a concrt stuation cannot smpy

critica. Phiosophy wi nvr crtica thory It has to mta

critica (hory) If ph iosophy wr to critica it wou st ink

to th siuation insisting on unmntion possits that hav not yt

n rai; or i wou start y istngushing what is from what ought

to Phi osophy as criica thory wou raw a istnction in h sns

of th Grk

krnn

anay tnncis as Ernst Boch i an in on

way or anothr stick o on y on form of ngaion as th motor of trans

formation I wou thus in isf n on way or anothr to th givn

ram of th ossi Sutracng t from his on mans insisting hat

no form of tru chang s acicay uci. hr s chang that

from h immannc of a givn situation sms impossi o afrm

paraconsistncy in a v spcic sns against th matriaismocratic

posiion s ssntia ut t ns to thought an afrm as an onto

ogca paraconsisncy (of th vn) not as nut onstic paraconsisncy

(of ioogica suction or isavowa) It has to afrm as that which

forcs a choic forcs us to fr. his is why phiosophy has to afrm

th contingnt unforsa an scanaous mrgnc of a nw impos

si possii - ha of an vn which i s not acicay uci.

hs is why phosophy as macrica anamnsis has to compris an

mnt of a iactic of iactics an noniactcs

8

A mtacritica

stanc - a trm rsurrct an avocat y my comra orno

75 S ain adio, oniion. ondon Yor oninu 009

76 on shold no ha kinein also ans 'o hoos o d cid hs I iy ha i is no

ha h losohy d cid s, u ha i insiss on h n ssiy of ang a choic For hi s, s also

adious r a on h as of hilosohy in Aain adio, Thining h E n, in lain adiou and

Slaoj

i

Phi/phy in th Pen

aridg Mald n: oly, 2009), . 18.

77 S for a Es loh 'T nd nz - a nz - Uo in

k

Franur: Suhra,

1985).

78 r on ould also n d o d lo hy h r laonshi n h dal cical d o n

of cons n s and h ir nondia cial 'oigin has o on i d of in a dia ical ann On

can nd r his in a uh oo shor and asrac ay y saying ha on hins h r laion n

h o ih r as a r laion of a 'io

0

of an 'and . Eih r h r is h 'dial ial

nd

h non

dia ial sid , hich il i s ha h r is a dial cical and a nondial ia srau of hough;

hining h laion of h rs h n ould co don o hining h 'and n h . This is

r cis ly h ah of ialis. gains his on shold lai ha h r is no r a ionsh i n

h , alhogh h r a dial cical cons q nc s of a nondial cical n his is ha i as o

hin h 'iho r aion n h . ny dia cics hin h iho and no h and .

Dia cis is aays hin ing nonr laion.



REMEMBRNG HE IM SSIBE R A MEARIIA ANAMNESIS MMNISM

163

Ch sa

- s n c ssa caus t nal s phlosophy to turn ts lf aganst

ts lf, an to raw a ln of marcaton aganst r actona t n nc s

wthn ts lf. Crtca ph osophy raws an alst ln of marcaton;

m tacrtca ph losophy raws a ln of marcaton of an alsm wth

out alsm, or smply a truly mat rast

parln of marcaton

M tacrtcal mpl s ng s lfcrtcal mpl s a

phiophicL

aganst any fak (l ral, pragmatst, tc. ) a ctcs But also t

has to tak nto account that, un r chang hstorcal contons, th

v r

y m ans that r mn th human anma of th poss of th

mposs n to r n w Thus t s not a crtqu of th pr s nt,

ut a crtqu of th m ans of r m m rng th mpossl t s a m ta

crtqu An t thus has to work for th r n wal of thos m ans; t

mpl s a workngthrough of al ctcs an n gaton Ph losophy has to

me cri icL nmne

Coun ering nd'ence or Cr enm for he ven ;-Fi Cen ury

By r m m rng D scart s, a m tacrtcal anamn ss un rstans th

human anmal as a natura mom nt of anatural fr om an m tho

cally outs th oo of th vl captast g nus. By r m m rng

Plato, a m tacrtca anamn ss f ns th conc pton of a lf un r an

a an th a of truth. By r p atng Marx an workng through

H g l t otans th conc pton of a r n w a ctca mo l whch also

r n ws th m ans to r call th mpossl poss of an v nt What

o s al ths com own to? How can a m tacrtcal anamn ss concr t ly

count r mocratc mat ralsm toay? hr ponts

1

e -crL n

m ans pttng a

poLi ofhumn dcipine, equL

i nd fedom

aganst th r actona

nimL humn poi

of

om stcaton R m m rng th mpossl m ans startng wth a

t rmnat afrmaton whch afrms com

nsm as a (possl )

truth wthn poltcs Phlosophy can afrm that th communst

hypoth ss pr s nts th only thnka a of potcs An, f t can,

t must afrm t t must afrm that th nvual has not n c ssarly

surr n r to th stat an ts cont mpora anma humanst ol

o. It must afrm that a n w snguarcoll ctv cr aton of

posslt s s ts lf poss . An t must afrm that th nam

79

See he ireiv orezo C , oe Tord Mnif o for Mecriil R s n

Rud nd Vler,

Byond P lii?



ommunism is not fo v oom It must fm tht th

xp i n s n it hs to insist on th ft th w hv th m It

must m th imossi ossiii of ommunist w An, if w

hv suh xp i n s, w hv to o v thing in ou pow o

oninu to ou n to t th m This nmn ti fmion

is n fmion ss to v on s on t , singu f

mtion of h xist n of ommunis x i n s i is t th sm

i univ s, o tiv fmion us it is n fmtion of

h i in n tnst moi, h i tuth Aginst th f tishism of

fiu so to i s, i ins o soi huviniss, s nin

i to sy,

e acri a anan

hs to upho this fom of f

mtion of singuo tiv w ht is of ommunist ntu

This is why t st i n fo phiosophy, on shou t mint y

fm tht w n n th fo must ommuniss Th n

n w ginning, n v thing, s wys, wi gin with on t

t mint y s . A hiosophi y s .

2 If w oiiy in h sm sitution s Mx ws in th 0s,

hiosophy toy, s out in it ov , s ms to in omp

situion to tht of D st s in th 60s Thus,

e a-cri ca

anamn

hs to t th Ct sin g stu ginst iniff n

un hng onitions. ht n this m n Biou hs tiu

t i ignosis of h s n in th fo owing fom: h

tw nst nu hs not y t gun Th son, i n gu ,

is th w sti hinking fo xmp within oitis - in th

t ms of th tw nti h ntuy; w sti , fo xm , f to vo

ution in th mnn tht nin o Mo i8 This is on son

why h ou tim s im of isoi ntion 8 Disoi nttion

h n un soo s on i t ff t of h ( oogi)

ominn of th fk Two of moi mt iism ov ny

m iist i ti sn os in h ossi m of

oi s n th ir thoogi onstiuion; in th omm of

ngug s (th xp ssion of it oinions); th g

om xi of ou iniviuiti s n h i tionshi to h

ommunii s w think ht w ong o v n if w itiy

on into h m (fmiy, nion, st , n so on). How n w

oppos this stn

80

or an anayss of he as cen see Aai adiou T Cnu idge/Maden oi

007)

8 adou ·ou du pJn



RMMBRING T M SSBL R A MACRICAL ANAMNSS F C MMUNISM

165

I wa o sugg s ha s D sar s who o rs som m as o

omg up wh a

eren ind'erene againJ he inrene

prou

y mora ma rasm. Agas h

orien ing ind'ene

o h

a

k Two o s o pu up a

Jub ie inrene

o a ru Two

whh s osuv or ay ru or g r or ao o

hough Ths surav r suras as D sar s

a h s mgly uavoa parular r s a au

ralzaos o h h r s . Baou has a r s mar oul

wha hs a o surav r ao oay a m a3

Th s ar rs mom s o a or su v sa agas

mora ma ralsm: o s rs a r wh r gar

o um rs s oy wh r gar o h sash r gm o h

possl hrly wh r gar o parular s ourhly o rg

h all g aomy w h auhorara a h o ra

a al ly o rg h s parao o r p o a pro o

Th rs mo o r mp s ha a um ra maor s

o a r ro o ruh a po alr ay arula y D sar s

ma p op ou mor ha a ml o passv o s; h

s o mo mp s h agoss ha oay h poss s a

r pr ssv a gory; h hr ha a ruh a oy g rom som

hg whh s val or ayo a sr gars h parular s o

r l worls; h ourh ha o ao kow ava

whh orm o spl whh orm o auhor w hav

a qua . Ay a g ra s s ow orms a o a v r

kow ava som o wll g hur h ours o s v l

opm .84 Th h mo o r aly mpl s h sgh

ha a po s h r a smp r p o s o syoy

mous wh rao or a pur pro o s ay w pro

a s as s w l kow aways hr a o om a y

mark al prou. po s rah r h syh ss o r p

o (as som hg uhkal or mposs wh a gv

hsoral suao has alr ay ak pla a oup o m s or )

a pro o: a syh ss o sguar a uv rsa

All h s r s ar or a o mporary

82 diou

Bn n Ent

p. 1 0

83

hee eonsuc wh cn be ound i n: Alin do u,

m

q d tmp> prJn

mn > 205

4,

www.eneepssso .f

84 Tis is n insigh h is pticulrly vlid when one eles poliis o love Aer love enoun

e,

none o ose involved nows in dvnce i f soeone wil l ge hu soe poin i n he his of

e loves nfoding.



66

FN RDA

r acualzaon of D scart ss g sur n th fram of a

m a-cri a

anamn

that nsss on th possl of h mposs th contn

g nt occurr nc of an asolut contng ncy whch alows for th

hnkal of th unthnka ( qua) for th m rg nc of th

anatura human fr om whch mak s all of us nto mom nts

of th nonr laton w n th human an th anmal Thus phlos

ophy n tm s of sor ntaton o s not hav a crca u n any

tratonal s ns . It not only stanc s ts lf from th worl of th

th r s' t has to com up wth a r n w noton of th contng nt

m rg nc of h asolut (th v nt an a truth whch unfols

post v nay) . of our anaura fr om an t can only o

so y r m m rng that t has alr ay tak n pac s v ral m s

un r ff r nt hstorcal contons an takng ths nto account

M a-cri a anamn

can o so y r m m rng communsm

Thus ph losophy has to Cart san n a r actual

way t has to

a Cart sansm for h w nrst c ntu (st to com ) 85 I

can tak hs m tacrtcal stanc propagatng th hnkal of

unthnkal an mpossl communsm n r mnng th human

anmal that t can act n a human or tt r nhuman caus anatu

ral way hus not on ly hav to chang th worl of o s

languag s nvuals an commun s u aso y comng

nff r nt towars an s al g v nc s w also (an may

rst an for most) hav to chang ours lv s B caus w can . An

w can caus w ar ay so. Phlosophy r cals actons of th

mposs thoughts of th unthnka un r chang contons.

Ths s phosophy as

m acri a anamn.

Th n (wth m tacrt

cal anamn ss as on of ts pr conons) a tw nrst c ntury wll

gn som ay or

m a-cri a anamn

s a pr paraton for ths

v ry gnnng

hat

m a-cri a anamn

ak s up from asm un r mat ralst

contons s h a of truths th

a of h a

Ths s what phlosophy

as phlosophy always was an n or r to r man phlosophy wl always

conton y It s stll

ma ria

as t agr s that th r s nothng

85 Th nyrs nury i ll gin so sy i is solu ly n ss lhough i is ipossi

l This is hy his li rs poin o h r l s h r l in h nin rsion is pr is ly

h is ipossil nd n ss h s i Th only hing o r l s h lhough on n

solu ly sur h h nyrs n ury il gin so dy i igh oupl of hou

snd y rs o hpp n



REMEMERNG H E M SSLE F R A MEA-CRITICA ANAMNESS F C MMUNSM

167

ut

o s n lngug s; ut t s at th sm tm l t s t ntro

u s n x pton nto wht th r s It r l s on a ts of th

x pton It s

forma

s t s onton y th form of th of

truth

- as truths stn n x pton to th r am of th smpy gv n But

th l ts of th x pton hs lso to thought dec ay: t s

dctic of dct and non-dect not totlzng ts B aus n

r mnng us humn nms pioophy mind ite or n oth r wors

t

ss rts n f ns th s mngly mposs possl of truth whh

s

th only tsk phlosophy has v r ha throughout ts hsto B aus

y ss rtng ts lf n r mnng ts f of ts rol phlosophy n ount r

on

thr at th sapp aran of on onton of on l of prt

ths s to say for our ont mpora nonworl th spp rn of

mnpato polts or f th r s on ly unv rsaz nff r n n

survvlst

nm humnsm pots spp ars; t om s mxtur of

mnstrton an orrupton8 Phosophy s

metacrita anamne

s

thus rst an for most s lffrmton of phlosophy Afrmaton tht

afrms ph losophy s phosophy But y frmng ts f t frms som

thng s B aus phlosophy s ony phosophy an an r mn

phlosophy wh n t s onton y som thng tht s not phlosophy

Ths s what t l rn from sm Thus n frmng ts f t lso

frms th (hstor ly sp ) truths (or at l ast th r mposs

possl) that t s onton y An truths ar n v r phosoph

th y aways m rg n xtraphlosophal omns of prt n pol

ts for xmpl

Phlosophy s

e-armative metacritica anae

s ng n w m ns

to r mn us of our unthnkl pt s our antur fr om of th

possl to lv f un r an thus lso frms th mposs

possl of th xst n of pots ommunsm In frmng ts lf

phlosophy ns wthn ts f som thng whh ontons ts own onst

tuton ut at th sam tm s rlly utonomou from phlosophy Th

frmaton of phlosophy l s to th frmton of tru prat s outs

phlosophy:

meta-crita and anamnetica ematn of phioophy thero ead

to the recoection the extimate tru /kee phioophy

Communsm s

on of th (multpl ) h rts tht ar l to k p phlosophy alv Ths

86

One ay of reading he onepora• siuaion ould e o presen i as d iferen ona

ions of hese o ers: here is corrupon and hen hee is he adnsraion of is efes; here s

adnisraion as he e preondion fo orrupion and here is corrupion as he ony hing ha

eeps adnisraion running



168

FN RUDA

is

wy on nsw r to t qu stion tis voum s r ss (commu

nism n w ginning? t n s piosopic qu stion s: on

conition for n w ginn ing of communism is t s fss rtion

ie

Se! 6ehaup ung

of pi osophy.

Se!6 6e/ap un

of phiosophy s r c

ing th imposs possiii of t ist nc of mnciptor poitics

T nm of it right now cou p rhps lwys wil commu

n ism So communism n w ginning? Y s. An for this w n

pi osopy t us wys r m m r tt t r is wys t impossi

possiii of n w gnning; n wys n w situtions. This is

me a

cri al aamneJ.

Tis is piosophy.



8 Commnism Today

Emmanuel Teay

T at on th communst hypoth ss t s ms to m ss ntay ols

own to t foowng qu ston: Shou th communst pro ct such as

has

n laora snc t nn t nth c ntu s t own among t

gr at uopas tat hav mark t hstory of st rn pot ca tough

from Campan la to Thomas Mor an our r - or rat r s t st l a

to prov m anngs an p rsp ctv s to our srugg s toay?

woul lk to not rstly tha for m s qu son s not a n w on .

In 992 n t wak of th fal of th rln al an t V v t R voluton

n Pragu at a tm wh n al t st rn nt lg ntsa w r t r

moanng or c l ratng th ath of communsm I pulsh a ltt

ook wt Act s Su ntl

e Tmejour du Comme

(T Thr

Day of Communsm) as an pgrap for ts t xt I us a v rs from t

Gosp l of Mat w ( 72 T y wl k hm an on thr ay h

w

ras to f . ' Ths ook avanc two as rsty t tr to

xpan th sastrous n of actuay xstng socasm ts was I

argu

t1e equence the trormation of the co"t Pement into a

ecular ligion .

Startng from th t ss of a Marxst sc nc of sto

an soc from th formaton of a vanguar par ntrust wth ts

sc nc

an nv st wt th msson of gung th prol tarat to t

r vouton an from th rath r m ssanc conc pon of t workng cass

as h unv rsal class r spons for putng an n o class soc a

v ra Church was cr at wth ts own ogmas rtuals rarcy

an nquson. In hs Curc Hso w a captal H took plac of

Go; ut at not funam ntay chang th natur of t nsttuton

nam y on foun upon t ypoth ss of an nght n t charg

wt th fat of th p op an upon t valu s of or r o nc an

scp n . I t s har to s how an organzaton conc v of n ts

mann r coul hav com an nstrum nt of co ctv mancpaton

ut s conly I r call o us Maos formuatons

that we the

exploitation the

14

tgg and whe t1e

1

opprn the

tace.



170

EANUE ERRAY

Since the en of actually existing socialism i not a all mean he en of

capitalist exploitation an the manifol oppressins that go with it ut on

he contra ha eve chance of aggravating it given he isappearance

of a threat that ha in the past often ote the ourgeoisie towars

pruence an compromise

ey oforee ha he coun phoen

wou oon re fro he h

ust as aer the aorion of the rench

Revolution an apoleons ictaorship the repuican an emocratic

iea eclare ea in 11 was littleylittle resuscitate an reinvg

orate so that it ha triumphe across all of Europe a centu later. he

same causes prouce the same effects an you i no have to e a rocket

scientist

or some ivinely inspire prophet to preict that the communist

hope woul soon e resurrecte - a resurrection whose rst omens we

can al oserve toay

In a secon text written in 007 with the sl ightly provocative title De

nine Prouhon (rom enin to Prouhon) I turne ack to the

same questions ut from a rather ifferent ange the strate of the

Communist Parties as we know consiste of ting to

e a e power n

order o hen pu o e

as a lever for caring out socia transformation an

securing the victo of the emancipation proec. his strate thus relies

on the allecisive hypothesis that

he a e an n rn adeua e o h

projec

an it is on precise this point that we might question it here

can e no out that the state is an effective instrument for caring out

cean social transformations in particular we mght recal he role that i

playe

the perio of primitive accumulation laying the groun for the

avent of capitalist socie. But when the transfomaion we have in min

is that of collective emancipation the generaliation of freeom an

equai across al omains of social l ife is the state still the appropriate

tool? his is outful y enition the state s an authori separate

from exterior to an aove socie its ve existence relies on the opposi

tion etween those who govern an those who are governe etween

those who rule an those who are rule. Since communism must neces

sarily avance y way of the aoliion of this opposition we can say ha

there exists a

an con d n be ween he goaL pued co

and he ea eped he a e and he par ha r .

his is the reason why enin evoke he

w hengaway of he a e

as a

process that woul have to egin immeiately aer the conquest of power

an as one of the urgent tasks of the new government. However in the

I

epu d

Combat kd11. (ai: G , 20

J

I .



COMMUISM TODAY

7

USSR ths task was in fat postpon in favour of oth rs m mor

pr ssng nam ly th f n of th R volution against its om st an

for ign n mi s th ol tiviation of agriultur an inustrialiation

In th Stalin ra ths postpon m nt was th oi it ing sp i that

th

tatoship of th po taat far fom with ring away woul hav to

go through a p rio of nt nsiv r infor m nt fo t oul giv way to

ommunism It woul mistak n to s in ths v opm nt th smp

r tion of th irumstan s partular to th Sovi t Union of th

9

2s in fat

he /a never been an in i u ion ha worked oward i own

dappeance

On th ontrary lk Spinoa's

unaquaeque r,

insttutons

hav a t n ny to p rs v r in th r own ing an to work fo th r own

r proution; th th sis of th with ringaway of th stat is thus shown

to

utopian a last on ssion to utopia y th inorrigil r alist nin

H n th

co·e o roudhon:

fo him th onqu st of stat pow

must m an its imm iat y ing ismant an any survival v n in

part of ths authori woul a v r for th ol oppr ssions an

in qualit s to tak root again h stat must raiat at on an

its funtions han ov r to th ommuni of assoiat prou rs

Giv n th atastrophi fat of atuay xsting soialism suh th s s

su nly aquir a strking ont mporary r van In any as it s ms

l ar to m that he La enine een h-cen u deba e be ween anah and

co h o be poi ed on new b, in th light of th xp ri n

aquir sin th n

h n I r f r to th two t xts that I hav ust t t is not to ass t

som sort of lin ag ut rath r to mak quit l ar that

we have a h ory

and an expernce

that w annot ust sw p away his histo an this

xp r n ar th history an xp ri n of a

faiLu:

th faiur of th

pro t of soia transformation suh as it v op though th ours

of

th tw nti th ntu aoring to th p rsp tiv s s t out y Marxism

But ah failur aso off rs

o o be dwn

an w must tak th s

l ssons on oar if w ar not to start off again along th sam out an

ommt th sam mistak s In th s on pat of this t xt I wou ik to

sk th a ri f list of th qu stions pos to us y a past that is wh th r

w ik it or not

our

past

A

rst s ri s of qu stions r volv aroun th notion of

pper

Marx

n ommnism as th

aboLi ion of priva e pper

n th m ans of

proution in favour of th ir o tv appropriation

irst qu stion

Shou h aboLn conce aLL ean ofpduc n no maer

wha hey a

Inluing th lan an th quipm nt us

agriultural



172

AN TRRAY

laou? Incuing t artsans an sa an u nt pris s? To put

t anot r way:

W a w ppad a h main pria ppr,

n t rs of captal goos ual consu goos ousng an so on?

S con qu ston:

W d man 6y Llc i apprpria n ?

In t

xp ri nc of actually xsting socais coll ctiv appopiaton was

v y wi y tak n to an nationalizaton o stat conto along wt a

tat ipli s in t rs of c ntraliz an u aucratic anag nt. Only

n t oan of agcultu was any pac l t fo ot r fos of prop r

n tis cas coop ativ s But o w av to ox ous lv s nto tis

il a tw n pvat pop r an stat contol? Soul w not

at xp i nt wit

hrfrn f prpr icipaLprpr fr xampL

in buiing pL and urban r r cp i prpr in ar anaL in

and SM

t o ctiv ing to l av to t stat ony tos aor

pulc s rvic s wos t cnological ans r qui a c ntaiz

anag nt ( n tanspot an so on).

nk to tis qu ston of prop is qu n f h nhip

b wn h mar and / pLan

Pivat pop n t ans of proucton

ans in p n nt an sov r ign pouc rs tw n wo t can

no lationsip ot tan ark t cop tition. But wt t co ctiv

appopiaton of t ans of poucton t pouc rs co

pa a

whL an i a pLan b y hwhL ha carr u h zc in f guar

an ing crdina in amng h pduc

T in ga of cop tition

wos sults can ony known aft r t v nt s t fo r plac

wit a

Zcu dic in,

wic ntais t rnation in avanc of t

o ctiv s to attan as w l l as t oganizaton of t ans n c s

say to ts n. T qu stion tus pos s : In t conoy of t n w

soci

a hud rrd pLan and huLd L cmp i n

and h mar ? Ts qu stion sou not onfus wt tat of pvat

v sus col l ctv prop r snc coop ratv nt rpris s coul aso

ink to ac ot y ans of atons of cop titon an off rng

goos on t ark t.

ar t n pos t qu stion of

h mcr ic Labra in f h pLan

In

soci ti s as cop x as our own a Sovi tsl c ntralz laoation of

t pan i s cl al pactica .

Dmc ic pLanning

ust foun on

c s at t as an pncpaly cons st of aonzing t pro cts a

oat y t s c s Also pos or ov s t qu ston of t ans

y

wc t pan s p nt : at ro s t r for

bining dcin,

an wat rol for incn i? Ult iat ly any ffort at planning ntails

c tain inital csons tat can an ust sutt to t couni:



COMMNISM ODA 13

t J rJrdfr cnJumptn nd wt J Ju 6 Jd r inJtd?

W n v ll mgn tht so ould omproms b n my

dff r t p rs tv s on ths pot

Fnlly ht v r th s rs to th qu stos of rop r nd th

p so pos d s th qu ston of

wrkplc dmccy

At th pr s t

mom nt

th orkp s th xmpl pr x ll n of uthortr

ord r nd h rrhl orgnzton - d d mory suh s t do s

xst ony b gs t th ftory gt So

ho do br k do ths

door?

H r must r sum th hol

dcuJJn n lmngmnt nd

wrk czci

suh tht th boton of prvt pro r th m ns of

produton so ds to th boto of g bour

As o rs so th rst qu sto os d s tht r grdg

quli

Th so t s tht xst d und r tully xstg solsm lful ly

dst d

th ms lv s from th gltr d tht hd hrt rz d th

rly ommunst mov m t tol rtng vrtos of nom nd vg

stdrds qul to or som tm s v gr t r thn thos xstng p

tst so t s W must l sk ours v s h th r

Juc ri n u

cn inu t xt ccring t w cri ri nd t w1 xtn

Ag mny

t rtv s r ossbl nd t s for th ommun to s ttl ths mtt r

But th trl qu sto s l rly tht of dmccy t s ommo

bnl to m tht th so t s of tuly xstg sosm

d d du to lk of d mory But ht shoud ud rstd by tht?

ody th ord d mory d sgt s cnjunc in f indiidufdm

nd

prlmn ry Jy

Ev ry dy f l th mts nd th fr of

d mory on v d suh fsho nd o on oud possbly b v

tht th futs of th syst m of tuy xstng sosm oud hv

b r m d d hd only suh d mory b n trodu d hus r

f d th hvg to omplsh gr t ork of th mgton n ord r

to d f mccy pplb t dminJ f c l: housg

shools h lthr publ s rv s d so o ht ro shoud b

ord d to th ork rs n th s tors und r onsd rto d ht rol

for th s rv us rs? Gv th rl of t hnort bur urt

mg m nt t s r ough tht must out th

mximum f

dcntltn

d strty m m t th

principl fJuidri

othg

s d d d t hgh r l v l tht ot b d d d t o r l v ls

W should mor ov r r t o

t mn by w t ZJ 1 indpnd

nc f mjr mnJ f rmtin nd cmmunic in

th r s t to th

stt Undoubt dly th soluton ould om by m s of th r to of

nd p d nt uthort s dsosng of th r on r sour s subontrt d



17

EMANUE TERR

by th stt Equly, ould hv to gurt

edo aoc n and

he fedo e de non oemen .

Flly, to th xt t tht oll tv

rul xt ds ross l v ls of so , ould hv to s to

he n

forceen of ndPaeedo

ludg, rtulr

he ndependence of

j

d a hor ;

th gurd pr x l of v b rt s Oy thus

r pr s ttv d mory d ts orol, uv rsl suffrg ,

b om truly d mort strutur , d ot th rstz d mory to

hh t s tody r du d

Lsty should ddr ss th mtt r of our

rea hp w h he o Jde

word.

so s d ply t grt d to th t rto oomy s

our o, ht ossbl of ggg pro t of rdl trsform

to ould b l ft to us? Wht m sur s shoud tk to prot t our

sov r g d fr dom to hoos th sol syst m tht suts us b st?

Cl rly, t th sm tm ths pos s

qeJ on of crrency he con of he

crca n of cap a and of good and o on.

You do ot hv to b proph t

to pr dt tht y tt mpt t rdl trsformto l l om up

gst

ho eronen :

os qu tly, th d bt s o rg ord

r voluto d solsm o outry g b of ot mporry

r l v

h xp r tht hs b gth r d brgs us o lst l sso ht

v r

form t tk s, th so tht t to buld w no be a Joce of

conc n ca compe and harmony.

It ll b

con a Joc

d

should ot oly pt ths but lom t Ad ths ot l ot

o ly oppos prtss of th ord r to thos ho t to go bk to

th old o It ll b stblsh d th v h rt of th so

b t

e paan of order and he par an of Pemen

b t th

dvot s of osoldto d prud d thos ho uphold xp r

m tto, ovto d rsktkg R tly r d th m mors of

ho yg, th Ch s CP s r t for d from of 1 99 for

hvg

oppos d th m Squr mssr ho yg xpls

ho b for 1 99 h hd lsh d th Ch s CP h rrhs o out

of hs d sr to mpl m t oom r forms For th r rt th h rrhs

uph ld th uthor of th pr, trz d pg, th supr my of

th stt s tor I br f, th y r m of th old vlu s of r lsm,

ord r, h rrhy d uthor ho hv ys b t th h rt of rght

g thought I

co Joc ; oo he w be a rh and a ,

sofr

s, ud r o mtt r ht r gm , th dlogu b t l ft d rght

ss tl ly bols do to th dlogu b t Do Quxot d Sho

Pz



C UNS AY

17

To pt t othr y, ht xt fro ousm s

a c

capb ey nd ccy ecing wn fa e.

Ths s ot th s tody:

ts s lk brok g, d r th mpott pry of bld

fors tht truth o o s bl to otrol Ths s ht hg

W

ll rg st ovr our o dsty ll otu to lsh

th h othr ovr ths dsty, but th th spl d osdrb

dffr tht ll b ghtg ovr rl stks ot th ossbl

togrsp phtoms





9 Answers Wihou Quesions

Slavoj

Zek

Ch, so thy sy, fyou rly ht somo, th urs to g t thm

s My you lv trstg tms ! Hstorlly, th trstg tms'

hv b prods of urst, r d struggls for por hh mlos

of ots suffrd th osus Th four vts tht shook th

orld th Summr of 20

th otuto of th Arb uprsgs,

Adrs Brvks klg spr Oslo, th rd l turmol

oug othr rsso, d th vot protsts UK ts th

hudrds of houss d rs lootd d burd - r lr sgs tht

r trg poh of trstg tms

Aordg to Hg, rptto plys prs rol hstory h

somth g hpps ust o t my b dsmssd s mr dt

s somthg tht m ght hv b vodd through bttr hdlg of

th

stuto but h th sm vt rpts tsf, ths s sg tht

r dlg th dpr h storl ssty Wh Npolo ost

th rst tm, , t lookd k bd luk h h ost th sod

tm, t Wtroo, t s r tht hs tm s ovr Ad dos ot

th

sm hold for th ogog l rss? Wh t rst ht th

mrkts Sptmbr 200 t lookd lk dt to b orrtd

through bttr rgultos, d so forth o tht sgs of rptd

l ml tdo r gthrg t s lr tht r dlg th

struturl ss

Wht mks th ogog rss d s th xom folod by th rg

mor of slsts d polts r told g d g tht

lv rtl tm of dt d dbts hr l hv to shr

burd d pt lor stdrd of vg -

a wi h he excep n of e

ery ric/.

Th d of txg thm mor s bsolut tboo: f do

ths, so r tod, th rh ll los th tv to vst d rt

obs, d ll suffr th osus Th oy y to sp

th hrd tms s for th poor to gt poorr d for th rh to gt rhr



178 LVO

j

zZ

Ad f th h r dg r of losg som of th r lth, so hs to

h lp th m out th domt oto of th ogog l rss (m ly

tht t s us d by x ssv stt borrog d sp dg) s blttly

ot th th ft tht, from I ld to th US, ts ultmt us

s th bg prvt bks ord r to pr v t th bks flur , th

stt hd to t rv th ormous mouts of txpy rs mo y o

d our y through suh ofusg stuto?

Bk th 1 90s, tl r off r d tS mtsm s rtv xpl

to of th toubl s xp r d by ordry G ms u mploym t,

mol d y, sol ur st b hd ll ths stood th J , for vokg

th J sh plot md v rythg l r by provdg smpl ogtv

mp' Do s ot tody's htr d of multulturlsm d of th mmgrt

thr t futo homologous y? Strg thgs r hpp g

l m ltdos our hh ff t our dly lv s but r xp

d s totlly opqu d th r to of multultulsm trodu s

fls lr to th stuto t s th fo g trud rs ho r dsturb

g

our y of l f Th r s thus t ro to b t th rsg

tmmgrt td W st r outr s (hh r h d p k

Br vks kl lg spr ) d th ogog l rss l gg to th

d t s rv s s prot tv sh ld gst th trumt ft of b g

ught up th hrlpool of otrsp t l bstto - th

tru for g body hh ot b ssmlt d s ultmt ly th f rl

s lfop llg mh of Cptl ts lf

Th r thgs hh gv us pus to thk Br vks d ologl

s lfustto, s ll s r tos to hs murd rous t Th m

f

sto of ths Chrst Mrxst hut r ho kll d mor th s v

p opl Oslo s pr s ly no s of mdms mblg t s smply

osst t xposto of Euop s rss hh s rv s s th (mo or

l ss) mplt foudto of rsg tmmgrt populsm ts v ry

osst s r symptomt of th r otrdtos of ths v

Th rst thg tht ot but stk us s ho B vk ostruts hs

my th ombto of thr l m ts (Mrxsm, multulturlsm,

Islmsm) , h of hh b logs to dff r t poltl sp th Mrxst

rdl l , multulturlst lb rlsm, Islm lgous fudm tlsm

Th old fsst hbt of ttrbutg to th my mutully xlusv

f tu s (Bolsh vkplutot J sh plot - th Bolsh vk dl l ,

plutort ptlsm, thr lgous d t) r turs h r

gus Ev mo dtv s th y Br vks s lfd sgto shu s

th rds of rdl rghtst d olo Br vk dvot s Chrst, but



ANSWERS WH U QUES NS

179

r ms

s ul gost: Chrst s fo hm m y

ulturl

ostrut to oppos Ism H s tf mst d thks om should

b

dsoug d from pursug hgh duto but h fvours s ulr

so

, supports borto d d lr s hms lf

pogy Furth rmor ,

B vk omb s Nz f tur s ( th d tls too for xmpl , hs

sy

mpthy for Sg, th S dsh poNz fok sg r) th ht d for

Htl r o of hs h ro s s Mx Mus, th l d r of th Nor g t

Nz

sst B vk s ot so muh rst s tMusm l hs

htr d s fous d o th Muslm thr t Ad, lst but ot l st, Br vk s

tS mt but poIsr l, s th stt of Is l s th rst d f l

g

st Muslm xpso h v ts to s th J rus m mpl

r bult

Hs v s tht J s r OK s log s th r r ot too my of

th m or, s h ot hs Mf sto' h s o J sh probl m

W st r Europ (th th x pto of th K d Fr ) s o ly

hv 1 mllo W st r Europ , h r s 00 000 out of th s 1 mllo

lv Fr d th UK h S o th oth hd, th mor th 6

ml o J s (600% mor th Europ ) tully hs osd rbl

J sh probl m Hs gur thus r z s th ultmt pdox of ost

Nz Ho s ths possbl ?

A k y s provd d by th r tos of th Euop ght to B vks

ttk ts mtr s tht, od mg hs murd rous t, should

ot fog t tht h ddr ss d gtmt o s bout g u prob ms

mst m polts s flg to ddr ss th oroso of Europ by

Islmzto d multultursm, or, to quot th

ru o,

should us th Oslo trg dy s opportu to s rously vlut

pol s for mmgrt t grto

Nory d ls h r

(Id tl, t ould b to h smr ppr to of th

Pl st ts of t rror, som thg lk th s ts of t rror should s rv

s opportu to vlut Is pol s' ) A f to Isr l s,

of ours , mplt ths vluto: multulturl Isr l hs o h

of suvvg, pth d s th oly r st opto h pr for ths prop

rly p rv rs ostghtst pt s tht od r to ust th lm to

Pl st , o hs to kol dg r trotv ly th l of rgum tto

hh s pr vously rl Europ hsto, us d gst th J s

th mplt d s W r dy to kol dg you tol r tords

oth ultu s your mdst f you ko dg our rght ot to tol rt

Pl st s our mdst h trg roy of ths mplt d l s tht

Ediial n rways hal ng , Jeem Pf 24 ly 20



1 8 SV J ZZE

prvously th Js thmslvs r th rst multulturlsts: thr

problm s ho to survv mtg thr ultur tt pls

hr othr ultur s prdomt At th d of ths rod ls th

xtrm possbl hh should o y b dsrdd of

hstor

pt bt osts d Muslm fudmtlsts

But ht f

trg r hr ths rsog ll

mpos tslf? Wht f Europ s to pt th prdox tht ts dmo

rt opss s bsd o xluso thr s o frdom for th ms

of frdom s Robsprr put t log go? prpl ths s of ours

tru but t s hr tht o hs to b vry sp y Brvk s

rght hs ho of trgt: h dd ot ttk forgrs but thos th

hs o ommu ho r s s too tolrt tords th trudg

forgrs Th problm s ot th forgr t s our o (Europ)

dt Although th ogog rss of th Europ Uo pprs s

rss of th oomy d dbt t s ts fudmtl dmso

io

Logo-poi

rss: th flur of rfrdums bout th EU osttuto

fyrs go gv lr sgl tht votrs prvd th EU s th

ort oom uo lkg y vso hh oud moblz popl

utl th rt protsts th oly dolo bl to moblz popl s

th tmmgrt df of Europ

Rt outbursts of homophob Est Europ postCommust

stts should gv us pus to rt rly 20 , thr s gy

prd stbu hr thousds mrhd p th o vol

or othr dsturbs gy prds hh took pl t th sm tm

Srb d Crot ( Blgrd d Splt) th pol r ot bl to

prott prtpts ho r froously ttkd by thousds of

volt Chrst fudmtlsts

Th

fudmtlsts rthr th

Turkys r th tru thrt to th Europ lgy, so h th EU

bsly blokd Turkys try should rs th obvous usto:

Wht bout ppg th sm ruls to Estr Europ?3

t s rul to lot tSmtsm th s srs s o of th lmts

logsd othr forms of rsm sxsm homophob d so o

ordr t o groud ts ost pol ts th stt o f srl s hr mkg

tstroph mstk: t hs ddd to doply f ot outrght gor

2 Incid ntaly, on should not h tat, in th 930s n di t r spons to az aniS mitism

Ern st on s th man ag nt of th conformist g ntriation o psychoanalysis ngag d in w ird

ctions on th p r ntag of fo ign population a national body an tol rat i ts midst wthout

ndang ring is own id ntit t by acc pting th a pobl matc.

ot to m nion t w id fact that th man forc b hind th antgay mov m nt in Croata is

t Catholi Churc w ll known for s nu m rous pa doph l scandals.



ANSWRS WH QSI NS

8 1

t

sol d o ld' (tdto Euop ) tS mtsm fousg

st d o t d l g dly pog ssv ' S mtsm msk d

s tqu of ost pots of st of s l Alog s

s B dH Lv ( s

Th ef n Drk m)

tly

lm d

t t t S mtsm of t st tuy ll b

pog ssv o o l Pus d o s ogl ouso s t ss

omp ls us to v t t old Mxst t p to of tS mtsm s

mys d/dspl d tptlsm (st d of blmg t ptlst

syst m, t g s fous d o sp goup us d of oup

g t syst m) fo v d s ptss, ot mpoy tptlsm

s dsgus d fom of tS mtsm

Ts uspo bu o l ss ff tv pobo of tg old

S mtsm s tkg pl t v y mom t oldsoo

tS msm s ug ll oss Euop sp ly posCommu

st Es Euop out s W obs v sm d l

t US Ho t US Cst fudm tlsts, o s t

by d to tS mt o pssot y suppot ost poly of

st of s l? T s oy o soluo o s gm t s ot t

t US fudm tlsts v g d t s tt osm ts lf ts

t d of J s o do o fuly d pols of stt

of s l, pdoxlly b m tS mt ts lf s osu d

gu of t J o doubts t ost po t log tS mt

s s l s plyg dg ous gm Fox N s t m U S

vo o f dl gt d su suppo o f s l xpsosm

tly d to d mo Gl B k s most popul ost os omm ts

b omg op ly S m

T stdd ost gum gst t ts of pol s of t

stt of s s tt of ous , lk v y ot stt s d

soud b udg d d v tuly tz d but tt t s msus t

us d qu of s l poy fo S m upos s W t

uodto Cst fudm tlst suppot s of t s pol ts

t s tqu s of s pol s s ot mpl of gu

m tto b st d d by od fu too publs d Juy 200

t V s dly

D rJ

t sos to stoky Nzlookg

Auss o of m oldg s ds spp d om g

to s f d H you s g o totly ust d tS mtsm

s b g msus d fo p qu of s ! Su odys l s of

st of s J s s of t St of s l guly

dsmss d s s lftg J s o v o t u s lftg J s



2 SV K

thos ho s tly ht th tu g tn ss of th J sh p opl p s y

th onsts mkng pt th ntS mt s? Ho dd nd up n suh

d stuton?

Th und lyng pobl m s h th on of ovng on 's n ghbou s

usul G K Ch st ton ht th n on ts h d Th Bb t ls us to lov

ou n ghbous nd lso to lov ou n m s pobby b us th y

g n y th sm p opl ' So ht hpp ns h n th s pob mt

n ghbous stk bk? Although th UK ots of August 01 1 tg

g d by th suspous d th of Mk Duggn t s ommonly pt d

tht th y xp ss d p un s but ht knd of un s ? Lk th

bunngs n th Ps sububs n 00 th U K pot st s hd no m ssg

to d lv Th ontst s h th th mssv stud nt d monst

tons n Nov mb 0 1 0 hh lso tun d vo nt th y hd m ssg

ton of th hgh duton foms Ths s hy t s dfult to

on v of th U K ots n th Mxst t ms of th m gng voluton

sub t th y t muh b tt th H g ln noton of bbl of thos

outsd th ognz d so sp p v nt d fom ptptng n so

poduton ho n xp ss th dsont nt ony n th gus of

tonl' outbusts of d stutv vol n of ht H g d bstt

n gtv' Myb ths s th hdd n tuth of H g of hs poltl

thought th mo so foms ognz d ton stt th

mo th bstt n gtv of ton' vo n tuns

Th th olog mpltons of ths hdd n tuth un xp t dl f

hng Wht f th ultmt dd ss of th bbl ommndm nt

Thou sht not kll s God (J hovh) Hms f nd th fgl

humns Hs n ghbous xpos d to dvn g ? Ho oft n n th

Od T stm nt do nount God s dk stng ho butly

ntud s nto humn lv s nd sos d stuton? Wh n L vns ot

tht th st ton h n s n ghbou s to k hm s h not

mplng tht ths ognll f s to Gods tonshp to humns so

tht th ommndm nt s tully n pp to God to ontol Hs g ?

Insof s th J sh solut on s d d god god ho suvv s onl s

d d tt of th s d book of th L to b nt p t d ht d s

th th d th of God s p s y th god of th l of d stutv fuy

nd v ng Th ttl of knon book on th Hooust

Go

Di(

inAchwi

hs thus to b nv t d God s bon n Aushtz though

ts vol n R ll th stoy fom th Tmud bout o bbs d btng

th oogl pont th on ho s losng th d bt ls upon God

Hms lf to om nd d d nd h n God do s tuy om th oth



ANSWRS W U QUS NS

183

rbb

t ls Hm tt s ork of r to s lr dy ompls d, so H

o s otg to sy d sould d prt, God t do s t

s s f, t Austz, God m bk, t tstrop os qu s.

T tru orror do s ot our r bdo d by God, but

God om s too los to us

Ts s y bot os rvtv d b rl r tos to t urb ur st

l

ry fl d. T os rvtv r to s pr dtbl t r s o ust

to for su vdlsm o sould us ll ss m s to r stor

ord r d t s d d to pr v t furt r xplosos of ts kd s ot

mor to r d sol ssst , but rt r mor dspl , rd

ork

d s s of r sposbl Wt s fls ts out s ot o y

tt

t gl ts t d sp rt sol stuto pusg youg p opl to

su vol t outbursts, but, p rps mor mportt, t y su

outbursts o t subt rr pr ms s of os rvtv d olo ts lf.

W , bk t 1 990s, t Cos rvtv s lu d t r fmous

bk to bss mpg, ts obs suppl m t s l ry dt d

by

Norm T bbt, v r sy bout xposg t dr s r ts of t

Cos rvtv uosous 4 m s ot ust sol but lso t rrtor

ml t must b prt of our g d to sts tos bs stts of

trblsm d t rrtorl Ts, t , s t bk to bss s r lly

bout t r ss rto of t brbr bs stts lurkg b t

t

s mbl of vlz d bourg os so d do ot out r

t vol t outbursts t s sm bs stts ot of t lo r ud r

prv g d strt, but of t g mo ptst d olo ts lf? Bk

t 1 960s, ord r to xpl o t s xul r voluto brougt bout

t ftg of trdtol obstl s to fr s xul, H rb rt Mrus

trodu d t o pt of r pr ssv d sublmto um drv s

b d sublmtd, d prv d of t r vz d otg d stl r t t r

r pr ssv rt r - s ot ts kd of r pr ssv d sublmto t

s o t str ts of t UK tody? Tt s to s

y, t s t r

s ot m r du d to tur b sts , but t storlly sp turl

b st produ d by g mo ptlst d olo ts lf, t z rol v l of

t ptlst sub t.

M l l st lb rs, o l ss pr dtbly, stuk to t r mtr

bout gl t d sol progrmm s d t grto fforts, v

d prv d t youg r g rto of mmgrts of y l r oom d

sol prosp ts vol t outbursts r t r oly m s of rtultg

4

Jqu lin Ros ,

Ofod OU 996) p 65



1 SV J ZZK

h r

dssasfaon. ns ad of ndulgng ours v s n v ng fu fanas s

should mak an ffor o und rsand h d p r aus s of h vo n

ouburss: Can v n agn ha m ans o b a young man n a

poor

and raally mx d ar a a pror susp d and harass d by h

pol lvng n a on x of ms and brok n fal s no only un m

poy d bu of n un mployabl h no hop for h fuur ? Th mom n

ak all hs no aoun h r asons hy p opl ak o h sr s

b om l ar Th probl h hs aoun s ha sply lss h

ob v ondons for h ros gnorng h sub v dm nson : o

ro s o mak a sub v sa m n o plly d lar ho on r la s

o on s ob v ondons ho on sub vz s h m. W lv n an

ra of ynsm h r an asly magn a pro s r ho h n augh

loong and burnng a sor and pr ss d for h r asons or hs vo n

ould sudd nly sar alkng ll a soal ork r soologs and soal

psyhologs quong dmnsh d soa mobl rsng ob ns ur h

ds

n graon of pa rnal auhor a lak of ma rnal lov n hs ary

hldhood h knos ha h s dong and h s non h l ss dong as

n h famous G Of r Kupk from L onard B rns ns

Se

S ory

(lyrs by S ph n Sondh m) hh onans a sa n Juv nl

d lnqu ny s pur ly a soal ds as :

W n v r had h lov

Tha v ry h ld ougha g

W an ' no d nqu ns

W r msund rsood

D p don nsd us h r s good

My daddy b as my momy

My mommy lobb rs m

My grandpa s a omm

My grandma push s a

My ss r ars a mousah

My broh r ars a dr ss

Goodn ss graous has hy 'm a m ss

Y s!

Of Kupk h shouldn b h r

Ths boy don n d a ouh

H n ds a us ful ar r



ANSWERS WITH UT QUEST I NS

85

So ys ly d hm rrb rk

Ad sooogy h s sk

D r kdly so ork r

Th y t ll m g t ob

Lk b sod rk r

Whh m s I d b slob

Its ot m tsol

Im oly ork

Goosky, h 's hy Im rk !

Th y r ot smly sol ds s , th y d lr th ms lv s s suh, ro

lly stgg dff r t ous of th r r dm t (or ho sol

ork r, syhoogs, udg ould d srb ) Cos qu ly, t s

m gl ss o od r hh of th o r tos o th ros os rvv

or lb rl, s ors s Comrd Sl oud hv ut t, th y r

bo h

ors , d ths lud s th rg formult d by both sd s bout th

r l dg r of th s outburss r sdg h sy r dtbl rs

c

io

of th s l t mor Ths r o (hh should bsou ly o b

dsmss d s smy r ory) s lr dy tkg l th gus of

trbl tv of s o th sudd m rg of th s lforgz d

d f of lol ommut s (Turksh, AfroCrbb , Slh uy

formg h r o vglt us to ro t th r hrd r d ro r

H r , too, o should r th ho bout hh sd to tk hs

o t Ar th sml shok rs d f dg th t bourg os gst

g u f vo rot st gst h sys m, or r th d f d rs r r

s tv s of g u orkg ol gs for s ofsol ds grto?

Th rot st rs vo s lmos xusv y dr t d gs h r o

Th rs bur d d h stor s loo d r ot thos of rh r ghbour

hoods h y r rt of th hrdo ustos o th v str from

hh

h rot st rs org d Th sd truh of th stuo r sd s

hs

v ry o b th to ol s of h ud rrvl g d hos ho

stl su d futog th h syst m v rsus thos ho r too

frustr d to go o dog so, d r oly bl to strl t th oh r ol of

th r o ommu Th ot th suss h rots s thus ot smly

o b rts of so ; t s, s most rdl,

O�ic b w

0Joci Joc,

b thos ho hv othg to os d hos

ho hv v rythg to los , b hos th o stk th r ommu

d thos hos stk s r th hgh st



86 SV J ZZK

But

hy r th pro st rs push d ords hs kd of vol ?

ygmu Bum s o th rght trk h r h h hrt rz d h

rots s ts of d f tv d dsqul d osum rs: mor th hg

s , th rots r osum rst rv of d struto, osum rst

d sr vo ly t d h ubl to r lz ts f th prop r y

(through shoppg) As suh, h y lso of ours , ot d mom of

g u prot st, kd of ro r ply o th osum rst d olo th

hh r bombrd d our dy v s You ll o us to osum

hl smult ousy d prvg us of th possbl of dog so prop rly

- so h r r dog th oly y op to us Th rots thus,

y,

stg th ruth of th postd olog so , dsplyg p

fully plpbl m r th mt rl for of d olo Th prob m th

h rots s ot th r vol s suh, but th ft tht ths vol s

ot ruly s fss rv - N tzsh s t rms, t s r tv , ot tv

s mpo t rg d d spr msk d s dsply of for s vy

msk d s trumpht rvl.

Th dg r s tht r lgo ll l ths vod d r sor m g.

oth r ords, th rots d to b stut d s r s th y form th

oth r p of vol tht th b rl mor tody p r v s s

hr t o our v ry y of lf : m ly, dr t t rrorst tks d sud

bombgs boh s s, vol d out rvol r ught up

d d vous yl , h g rtg th v for s t tr s to ombt.

boh s s, r d lg th bld

Lc ,

h r vol s

mplt dmsso of mpo . Th dff r s tht , otrst to

h Prs or UK outburss, hh r z rol v l ' prot s, vol t

outbursts hh d ohg rrorst tks t o b hlf of h

bou M g provd d by r lgo

But dd ot th Ab uprsgs off r ol l tv t of r sst hh

vod d hs fls lt rtv of s lfd strutv vo d r lgous

fudm sm? Uforut , h Ept Summ r of 20 1 my b

r m mb r d s h tm of th d of r voluo, s th suffotg of ts

mptory pot t ts grv dgg rs r th rmy d th slmsts

Tht s o sy, th otours of th pt b t th rmy (hh s th sm

old Mubrk rmy, th bg r v r of th US l d) d th

slmsts (ho r totly mrgz d th ry moths of th

uph vl, but r o gg groud) r mor d mor p r pbl : th

slmsts ll tol rt th mt rl prvl g s of th rmy d l g d o

log h g moy xhg . Th los rs l b th proW st r lb rls,

too k sp of l h CA fudg th y r g ttg to promot



ANSWERS WITH T QSI NS

17

d mo

ry d, sp ly th ru g ts of t r volutory v ts t

m rgg s ulr l , hh s d sp rt ly tg to orgz tork

of

v so orgztos from trd uos to f mst groups Wt

furt r omplt s th stuto s t rpdly ors g oom stu

to, h ll soo r or lt r brg to th str ts mllos of th poor,

lrg ly hth rto bs t durg th v ts domt d by th dut d mdd

lss youth Ths xploso ll

pa

th Sprg xploso brgg t

to

ts truth mposg upo poltl sub ts rs o : Wo ll

su d b omg t for hh dr ts th rg of th poor trslt

g t to poltl progrmm : th s ulr l or t Islmsts?

Th pr domt r to of W st r publ opo to th pt

b t slmsts d t rmy ll b thout doubt trumpt

dsply of yl sdom: ll b told g d g tt, s s

l r lr dy (t oArb) Ir populr uph vls Arb ou

tr s lys d mltt slmsm so tt Mubrk ll r trotv ly

pp r s mu l ss r vl - t s b tt r to stk th t d vl ko

d ot to ply roud too mu th mpto Agst ths yl

t mptto o should r m uodtolly thful to t rdl

mptory or of t Ept uprsg

Ho v r, o should lso vod th t mptto of th rsssm of t

lost us , h dmr s th sublm b u of uprsgs doom d to fl

Th po try of flur , t old B k tt motf of fl b tt r (hos l r

st xpr sso s Br ht's ot o

M

K u r: Wht r you orkg

o? " Mr K s sk d

M

K r pl d: m hvg hrd tm Im pr pr

g my xt mstk ) s tus d ut t o sould fous o r

t r sults l ft b d by flur O th ot mporry l , th probl m

of d t rmt gto ' r tus th v g : Wht postv

ord r should r pl th old o th dy ft r, h th sublm thus

sm of t uprsg s ov r? I t s t ts rul pot tht out r t

ftl k ss of th prot sts: th y xpr ss ut t rg h s ot

bl to trsform ts lf to mml postv progrmm of soopolt

l hg Th y xpr ss sprt of r volt thout r voluto

Th stuto Gr looks mor promsg, probb du to t

r t trdto of progr ssv s lforgzto (hh dspp r d

Sp t r th fll of th Fro r gm ) 5 But v Gr , t

5 Alhough een in Greee righing naionai i on he rie direcing i fury a he EU a

ell a a African iigan he lef echoe hi naionali u atacking he E U inead o uing

a criial gaze on i on a - uc a anaying o he governen of Andea apandreou a

a crucia ep in he eablihen of e Greek 'cienei ae



pros

ovn ss o rh s pk n popur slforgnzon:

prosrs susn sp of grn frdo h no nrl uhor

o rgu , pub sp hr l r od h s oun of

o spk, nd so on Whn h prosrs srd o db h o

do, ho o ov byond h for of r pros (shoud hy orgnz

n po pr, nd so on), h or onsnsus s h h

s ndd s no n pr or dr p o k s por,

bu rhr v so ovn hos s o xr prssur on

po prs. Ths, hovr, s lry ndqu o pos n

rorgnzon of h ho of so f o do hs, on nds srong

body b o rh quk dsons nd rlz h h nss

hrshnss. Who n opsh h nx sp? A n rd rgs

hr, h rd of

pop ovn pr or

Th pop s sll hr, bu no ongr s h yhl sovrgn Sub

hos l s o b nd g s rgh n hs rqu of h do

r por of h pop: h pop should b ronvd s h

pssv bkground of h pol pross h or s lys nd

by dnon pssv hr s no gurn h s rgh h os n

do s o knoldg nd rognz sf n pro posd by po

gns Thus, h rol of h popl s uly ngv on: fr

ons (or rfrndu) srv s hk on pr ovns, s n

pdn dsnd o prvn h Bdou d h brul nd

dsruv

f0g

(nforng) of h Truh on h posv ordr of Bng

rgud by opnons. Ths s ll h lor dory n do h

posv sp no n ordr s byond s sop

n onrs o ny lvon of uhn ordnry pop, on shoud

ns s ho rrduby

violn

s h pross of h r rnsforon no

po gns John Crpnr 's

Thy i

( 1 9) on of h ngd

srps of h o yood Lf, s h so of John Nd Spnsh

for nohng' - holss borr ho nds ork on Los Angs

onsruon s, bu hs no p o sy On of h orkrs, Frnk

Arg, ks h o spnd h ngh a lo shnon. Wh

bng shon round h ngh, h nos so odd bhvor s

hurh ross h sr Invsgng h nx dy, h dnly

subs on svrl or boxs hddn n sr oprn n

l, fu of sungsss Whn h r pus on pr of h glsss for

h rs , h nos h publ blbord no spy dsplys

h ord OBEY, h nohr b bord urgs h vr o RRY

AND REPROD UCE. lso ss h ppr ony brs h ords



ASWRS WITH UT QUS S

189

THS IS YO R GOD Wht g t h r s b utfuy v

n

ncn

of th rtqu of d oo through th rod oog

gss s dr ly s th Mst r Sg r b h th h of ko

dg

- r o s dttorshp n d mory, d s g t hu rts

Wh Nd tr s o ov Armtg o put h glss s o th fr d

r ssts, d og, vol gh foos orhy of

Club

(oth r

mst rp of th Hoyood L ft Th vo sg d h r s pos

tv vo , odto of b rto - th sso s tht our b rto

from d oo s ot spo ous t t of dsov rg our tru

S f W l r th lm tht h o looks for too og t r

through rod olog gss s o g ts strog h dh t s v ry

pf

u to b d prv d of d oog surpus oym t To s th tru

tur of thgs d th gss s It s ot th shoud tk d o

og gss s off o s r dr y s t s r tury

d oo our ur sght s d oog

Ths s hy h og ght b t Nd d mg s ru for th

m t srs h Nd syg o Armtg I'm gvg you ho

Eth r put o th s gss s or strt to t tht rsh (Th ght s

tkg p mog ov rtur d trsh bs Th gh, hh go s o for

ub rb ght mut s th mom xhg s of fr dy

sml s, s ts f oy rrto hy do s ot Armtg gr o pu

h gss s o, us to sts hs fr d? Th oly xpto s ht h

w ht hs fr d ts hm to s som thg dg rous, to t

prohbt d ko dg hh ould oty spo th r tv p of hs

dy f Th vol sg d h r s postv vol , odto of

b rto Ho do s om b om f mst sub t? Oy through

r oug th rumbs of prv g off r d to h r by th ptrrh

dsours - from th r o th ml prot tv sh d to p sur s

provd d by ml gl ltry' (pyg th blls r sturs, op g th

door for h r d so o d so forth

Wh p op dr y ry to orgz h ms v s mov m ts

mos h y rrv t s h gtr sp for d bt h r sp k rs

r hos by ot d v ryo s gv h sm (shor tm to sp k

Bu suh prot st mov m s r d qu th mom t o hs to t to

mpos ord r - t ths pot som thg k s d d Ev

rd prot s mov m , p opl

o no

ko ht th y t th y

d md Mst r o t th m ths But f th p op do s ot ko

do s th pr ko? Ar bk th th sdrd top of th pr

poss ssg hstor sght d dg h p op ? It s Br h tht



gv s us a lu h r ha s for som h os robl ma sog of

Th

Mu Tkn

h l brao of h ar Br h roos s som hg

muh mor uu ad r s ha may a ar Tha s o say ha

a ars s ha Br h s sly l vag h ar o h arao of

Absolu Kol dg a hsoral ag ha has oml ad rf

sgh o h hsoral suao a sub suos doko f h r

v r as o You hav o y s bu h Par has a housad y s ! '

Ho v r a los r adg o f hs o m ak s l ar ha som hg

dff r s h as hs r rad o h youg Commus h horus

says ha h ar do s

no

ko v h ha h youg mmus

may b

corc

hs dsagr m h h r doma ar l :

Sho us h ay hh should ak ad

shall follo lk you bu

do o ak h rgh ay hou us.

Whou us hs ay s

h fals s o .

Do o s ara yours lf from s

Wha h s m as s ha h auhory of h ar s

no

ha of d rm

a osv kol dg bu ha of h

o

of kol dg of a

of kol dg lk d o a oll v ol al sub . Th rual

o o hh h Chorus sss s oly ha f h youg omrad

hks ha h s rgh h should gh for hs oso

wi hin

h oll

v form of h ar o ousd o u a som ha ah

ay f h youg omrad s rgh h h par ds hm v mor

ha s oh r m mb rs. Wha h ar d mads s ha o agr o

groud

o s h

We'

of h ars ol v d gh h

us gh for us gh for your ruh agas h ar l j o no o i

Lon

ousd h ar.

Mov m s as h ag s of olzao ar h om a of ualav

d moray - v mass v s lk h o ss o Tahrr Suar

Caro h ol ho gah r d h r r alays a mor h r aso

h y sood for h ol hg s o h r moblzg rol

olal dyam

s. a homologous ay h orgazg rol of a ar has ohg o do

h s a ss o som rvl g d kol dg a ar s o a gur of h

Laaa sub suos doko bu a ld of kol dg

hh a l ossbl sak s (L ) our Ho v r v h s moblzg

rol of mov m s ad ar s s suf : h ga ha s ara s h



ANSWRSWITH UT QUS NS 9 1

popl hmslvs fom h ogz foms of h po gy hs o

b somho ovom bu ho? No by h poxm of h pop

hs

ogz foms somhg mo s , h pox s h

hs

mo' s

r

h u of h p popl W shoul o b

f o l h osqus fom hs sgh osg h sso

of Hgls uso of h mohy uhlssy slughg my

lbl s os o h y Th poblm h h Ss l s

o

xssv ul of psol', bu qu h oppos h s o

sufly Ms, bu m p of h buup

Kog, h xmp subsupposoo

To k hs sp byo h possbl'

oy

osllo, o

shoul shf h of ou g of Mx's

Cpi

o h fum

l suu l of umpoym h x of

Cpi

sf':

umpoym s suully spb fom h ym of umu

o xpso hh osus h vy u of psm s

suh I h s guby h xm po of h u of opposs

h sph of h oomy, s h v suss of psm (hgh

pouv, so o) h pous umpoym (s mo

mo oks uslss) h shoul b blssg (ss h lbou

) boms us Th o m s hus, h g o s

mm ym, sp hh vo hs o b pou

v bo, hh bo hs vh bgu o p slf ou

of h sysm Th s o sy, h ogog poss of pls globl

zo, h goy of h umploy qu qul byo

h lss oo of h sv my of bou' o shou os

ms of h go of umploym hos mssv popuos ou

h ol ho hv, s opp ou of hso', ho hv b

lbly xlu fom h mozg pos of s Wol p

lsm off s hoplss o m ss'8 - sol fl

ss (go, Soml), vms of fm o ol sss, ugh

psuoh h hs obs of phhopy NGOs o

(o h sm popl) of h o o' Th goy of h um

ploy shoul hus b xp o ompss h sp of h

popuo fom h mpo umploy, hough h olog

mpoybl pmly umpoy, up o popl lvg slums

oh ps of ghos (ll hos o smss by Mx hmslf s

6 Frdi Jamon

Rpntin pit l

(London Vro 01 1 )

19.

7 Frd Jamon V ln fth i l (Londo n Vro 009)

50

J son Rpwtin

pt l

19



92 SV J ZZE

ump prol trs') d, lly, ho r s, popultos or stt s

xlud d from th gob ptst pro ss, l th b sp s

t mps Do s ot ths xt so of th r of th u mpoy d'

brg us b from Mrx to H g l: th rbbl s b, m rgg th

v or of mpto strugg s? I oth r ords, suh r t gor

zto hg s th tr ogtv m of th stuto th rt

bgroud of Hsto b om s pot t g t of mptory strug

gl

R ll Mrxs dsmssv hrt rzto of th Fr h p sts

hs

Eg n h Bm:

th gr t mss of th Fr h to s fom d by th smpl ddt o of

homologous mgtud s, muh s potto s s form s of

potto s Isofr s th r s m r y lol t ro to mog

th s sml lholdg p sts, d th d t of th r t r sts forms

o ommu, o tol bod, d o poltl orgzto mog

th m, th y do ot osttut lss Th y r th r for pbl of

ss rtg th r lss t r st th r o m , h th r through

prm t or ov to Th y ot r pr s t th ms lv s, th y

must b r pr s t d

I th gr t t t th tu r voutory mob ztos of p sts

(from

Ch to Bol v) , th s ss of potto s xlud d from th

hstor pro ss prop r strt d to r pr s t th ms lv s tv ly W

should

o th�l ss dd thr ulto to Jm sos d ploym t of

ths

d Frst, o shoud orr t th s mot sur propos d by

Jm so, hos t rms r ) or rs, (2) th r s rv rmy of th

(t mporrly) u mploy d, () th (p rm ty) u mployb , d

() th form rly mploy d' but o u mployb oud ot mor

pproprt fourth t rm b th

ilgly

loy

from thos org

bl mr ts d sums up to vrous forms of slv ry? S od,

Jm so fls to mphsz ho thos xlud d r oft o th l ss

nclu

th orld mr t T th s of ot mporry Cogo:

b th th fd of prmtv th pssos xpodg y t g

th Afr h rt of dr ss, t s sy to ds r th otours of

glob ptsm S th fl of Mobutu, Cogo o og r xsts s

ut d op rtg stt sp l ly ts st r prt s multpl of

t rrtor s rul d by lol rords otrolg th r pth of d th

9 Quoe fom e ex avalab le a marxiog

0 Jameon V lc Dalct

.

580.



ANSWERS WIOU UESONS 1 3

my s u u s rugg r , of t ros

vg

bus ss ks to for g ompy o orporto xpotg

t (mosty) mg t t go Ts g m t ts bot

prt s t orporto g ts t mg rgts tout tx s t t

ro g ts mo y T roy s tt my of t s m rs r us

gt prouts k ptops po s sot forg t

bout t svg ustoms of t o poputo ust tk t for g

gt omp s out of t quto t o of t

rfr fu by o pssos f prt Try, t t gory of

form y mpoy ' sou b supp m t by t s oppost , tos

ut t o of g mpoym t o g rto of

stu ts s most o of g orr spog mpoym t,

s to mssv prot st t orst y to sov ts gp s

to subot uto r t y to t ms of t mrk t - f fo

o ot r r so t b us t mrk t ym ts f r rs t

uto prov by uv st s obso t

Jm so s r ot r (prox, bu t py ust ) k y

st p rt rz s ts strutu u mpoym t s fom of

xpliin

- t xpot r ot oy ork s poug surpusvu

pproprt by pt, t xpot r so tos o r strutury

p v t from g ttg ugt t ptst vor x of xpot g

bour, up to o zo s tos Ho, t , r to r tk t

o pt of xpotto? A r g s r prop ry

t tst, xpotto u s ts o gto - t xpot r

ot oy tos o prou or r t , but so ( v mo ) tos

o r o m

n

to r t Ar ot bk t t strutur

of t fmous Rbovt ok ? Wy o you tk you r xpot ?

For to r sos Frst I ork t ptst ppoprt s my

surpusvu ' But you r o u mpoy , o o s pproptg

you supusvu b us you r t o ! ' Ts s t s o

r so Ev rytg g s r o t ft tt t ptst tot

of pouto ot oy s ork rs, but so g t s t r s rv

rmy' of tos o ot ork t tt r r ot smpy outs t

rut of pt, t y tv y prou s otorkg by ts

rut O to r f r g to t

Ninhk

t y r ot smpy ot

okg,

t otorkg s t postv f tu t sm y s

off tout mk' s ts postv f tur

T mport of ts t o xpotto b om s

oppos t to

inn

t fvour motf of t ff r t v rsos of



94 SV J

ziz�;

ostmodr mroolts of or I sort ouut d Agmb

r dqut l t dtld lbortos of t rgutg or

msms of domto l t t of otos su s t xudd

br f

hm r,

d so o must b groudd (or mdtd by) t

tr of xotto tout ts rfr to t oom t gt

gst domto rms ssty mor or t o

lds

to utu rvots d ts of rsst rtr t to t trsfor

mto of t mod of roduto s su t ostv rogrmm of

t dologs of or s gry t o of som of drt

dmory T outom of t mss o domto s dmort

rogrmm t outom of t mss o xotto s

ommust rogrmm Tr rsds t mt of dsrbg orrors of

t glob Sout trms of t ffts of domto t go boms

dmory d frdom Ev t rfr to mrlsm (std of

tsm) futos s s of o oom tgory so sly

modut to ot of or or domto

d t mto

of ts s of t tords domto s of ours t bf

otr (ltrtv) modr tsm futo

frr y tout domto Wt ts oto of domto fls to

s s tt oly tsm s xotto turzd srbd to

t futog of t oomy t s ot t rsut of xtroom

rssur d vo d ts s y tsm gt rsol fr

dom d qul tr s o d for drt so domto domto

s rdy t strutur of t roduto ross Ts s so y t

tgo of surusvlu s ru r Mrx lys mszd tt

t xg bt orkr d tst s ust t ss tt

orkrs (s ru) gt d t ful vlu of tr boror s

ommod tr s o drt xlotto r tt s t s ot tt

orkrs r ot d t ful vu of t ommod ty r s g to

t tsts So l mrkt oomy I rm d fto dd

t ts ddy s otlss vzd td t form of

fr mrkt xg bt m d otr rsos std of t form

of drt srvtud or v ys oro t s sy to rdu Ay

Rd but tr s gr of trut t fmous ym to moy from r

A l Shru

Utl d ulss you dsovr tt moy s t root of l

good you sk for your o dstruto W moy ss to bom

t ms by m d t o otr t m bom t

I Ibid. 1



ASWS W QSS 9

oos of oh r m Blood hps ad gus o doars Tak your ho

h r s o oh r ' Dd o Marx say som hg smar hs lko

fomua of ho, h uv rs of ommod s, r aos b p opl

assum h gus of r laos amog hgs ? I h mark oomy r la

os b p op a app a as r aos of muually ogz d

fr dom ad qua domao s o og r dr ly a d ad vs

bl as suh

Th lb ral as r o domao s r ogo (h favour d op of

lb ral H g as ') r ogo b om s a sak a muulual s l

m by hh h varous groups p a ably ad l oraly dvd up h

spols 3 Th sub s of r ogo ar o lass s ( s m agl ss o

d mad h r ogo of h pro ara as a oll v sub f

ahg, fassm do s hs, d madg h muual r ogo of lass s)

Sub s of r ogo ar a , g d r, ad so o h pos of og

o r mas h a bourg os vlso fram ork s o y

lass pos

Th r urr sory of h o mporary l f s ha of a l ad r or

par l d h uv rsa husasm, promsg a orld '

(Mad a, Lua) - bu, h soo r or la r usually af r a ou of

y ars, h y sumb upo h k y d mma do s o dar ouh h

apals m hasms, or do s o d d o play h gam ? If o

dsubs h m hasms, o s v ry sfly push d by mark

p urbaos, oom haos ad h r s So alhough s ru ha

aapasm ao b dr ly h goal of pola ao - pol

s, o oppos s or pola ag s ad h r aos, o a

aoymous sys m o should appy h r h Laaa dso

b goal ad am f o h mm da goa of mapaoy pol

s,

aapasm shoud b s uma am, h horzo of al s

av Is hs o h l sso of Marxs oo of h rqu of

pli

oomy' (oally abs Badou) ? Alhough sph r of h o

om

y app as apoal ', s h s o of r f r ad suurg

prp of polal suggl s

Ths s aso ho o shoud approah h pa uprsg of 20 1 :

alhough (amos) v o husasally suppor d h s d mora

1 Ayn Rand Su ondon: P ngun 007 p 871.

1 Ja on, V 4h Di li p 568.

1 Ibd.

5 Th why t a too pl to crtc Mad la for abadog th ocal t p rp ct a r

th nd of apath d h aly ha a choc ? a th ov toward oca a r al opt o



96 SV J ZZK

xposos t r s tuy dd strugg for t r pproprto

gog o T of r s d most of t m d t W st brt

t m s t sm tg s t prod mory v v t r voutos

Est r Europ d sr for W st r b r d mory d sr to

b om k t W st Ts s y u s ss rs s o s s tt

t r s ot r dm so t ork prot sts t r t dm so

usu r f rr d to s t d md for so u st Ts strugg for r p

proprto s ot oy qu sto of t pr tto but s ru

prt os qu s W soud ot b too fst d by t subm

mom ts of to u t k y qu sto s Wt pp s t dy

r? Ho ts mpto xposo b trst d to so

ord r? As I v ot d ov r t st f d d s t ss d o

s r s of popur xposos r r pproprt d by t gob

ptst ord r t r ts b r form from Sout Afr to t

Ppp s) or ts fudm tst form (r) W soud ot forg t tt

o of t Arb outr s r popur prsgs v pp d s

formy d mort: t y r mor or ss utortr so tt t

d md for so d oom ust s spot ousy t grt d to

t d md for d mory - s f pov rt r t r sut of t gr d d

orrupto of tos po r d tus t s oug to g t rd of t m

Wt t pp s s tt g t d mory ut pov r r ms - t

to do ?

To r tur to Rd t s prob mt s r ud ryg pr ms tt

t o y o s b t dr t d dr t r tos of domto d

xpotto t y t rtv dsmss d s utop But o soud

o t ss b r md t mom t of trut Rd's ot rs rdu

ousy d oog m: t gr t sso of st sosm r y s tt

dr t boto of prvt prop r d mrk tr gut d xg

kg or t forms of dr t so r guto of t pro ss of produ

to ssry r sustt s dr t r tos of s rvtud d domto

m so ms f fs sort t r grd to ts pot fousg o o

ptst xpotto s omptb t d mory o g fr dom

b t v ry form of xpotto g ts t sd sso of t t

t tu st xp r f m r y bos t mrk t (udg

mrk t xpotto) tout r pg t t prop r form of ommu

st orgzto of produto d xg domto r turs t

v g d ts k dr t xpotto too

Wt furt r ompt s t stuto s tt t v ry rs of bk

sp s gob ptsm s ts f so proof tt ptsm o



SWRS WITH T QSTI S

97

og r fford uv r v ord r of fr dom d d mory, tht t

mor

d mor d xuo d domto Th of th

Tm rkdo Ch x mpry h r : ht quh d

by th brut mt t rv to T m Squr ot th

prop t of ft t to th b rd mort ptt ord r, but

g u y utop t rtv pob of mor d mort

an

mor

ut o : th xpoo of brut ptm ft r 990 go hd

hd th th r rto of ud mort o pr ru R th

Mrxt th o ry mod r gd: t th t r t of

th bourg o to v th

poLi iaL

po r to th rtory d k p for

t f

onoic

po r. Myb om thg homoogou gog o tody

Ch: t th t r t of th ptt to v pot po r to

th Commut Pr

Ho, th , r to br k out of th d dok of potpot

d htorzto? Wht to do ft r th Oupy mov m t, h th

prot t hh trt d fr y (Mdd t, Gr , Sp, U K)

r h d th tr , d r o rog bk roud th ord? O

of th gr t dg r th prot t r f tht th y f ov th

th m v , th th tm th y r hvg th oup d' p

og th , t S Fro ho of th W Str t oupto

o Sudy, 1 6 Otob r 20 1 1 , m ddr d th rod th vt

to to prtpt t f t r hpp g th hppy of th

960: Th y r kg u ht our progrmm W hv o

progrmm W r h r to hv good tm Cv om h p

th tru t t of th r orth ht r m th dy ft r, ho our orm

dy f hg d Th prot t r houd f ov th hrd d

pt t ork - th y r oy th b g, ot th d o th r b

m g : th tboo h b brok do ot v th b t of

pob ord r o d obg d v , to thk bout t rtv

I kd of H g trd, th W t r ft h•om fu r : r

bdog o d trugg tm' for th pur of t

rt, f mt, t , trugg , ptm o ry r m rgg

th m of

h

prob m So th rt o to b dr : do ot bm

dvdu d th r tttud Th prob m ot orrupto or gr d,

th prob m th yt m tht puh you to b orrupt Th outo

ot M Str t, ot W Str t, but to hg th yt m hh

M Str t ot futo thout W Str t.

Th r og rod h d, oo hv to ddr th truy

dfut qu to - qu to ot bout ht do ot t, but bout





ANSWRS WOUT QUESTONS 1 99

u f om hg Th y r o dr m h y r k g

fom dr m hh urg o ghm Th y r o d oyg

yhg; h y r g o ho h y m grduly d oyg

f

Th pro r hould b o oy of m , bu o of f

f d ho p d o uppor h m bu l dy orkg hd o

dlu h pro h m y hv d ff d off , o

lohol b r d ffr m, h y ll o mk h pro

o hrm mol g ur I boxg, o lh' m o hold h

oppo ' body h o or boh rm ord o pr v or h d r

puh

Bl Co' o o h Wl S pro p f

of poll lhg Clo hk h h pro r o

bl pov hg' bu h orr d bou h bulou of

h u : Th y d o b for om hg p , d o u g

om hg b u f you'r u g om hg om o l

h vuum you r , h d Clo ugg d h pro r g

b h d Pr d Obm' ob p, hh h lm d ould r

oup ml lo ob h x y r d hlf' Wh o houd r

h g pr ly u h quk rlo of h r of h pro

o of or ' prgm d md Y , h po dd r

vuum vuum h ld of h g mo d olo, d m d d

o

h vuum prop r y, pr g vuum, op

g for h ruly N Th r o pro r ou oo h r

h

h y hd hd ough of orld h r o r yl you Cok , o

gv

oupl of dor for h o o buy Sbuk puo h

l

p r go o h Thrd World ough o mk h m f l good

r ouourg ork d orur r h mrg g r d o

ouour v our dg, h y h for og m h y r l lo

g h r poll gg m o o b ouou d - d h y

h m bk

Th r of po lo o o prulr d md hh , hl

horoughly l, durb h v or of h h g mo d olo

hh, h l d ly f bl d l gm , d fo mpobl

(uv rl h h uh ) I h f mh of h W Sr

pro ,

hould d ly moblz p opl roud uh d md -

ho v r, o l mpor o r m mu ouly

c

from

h

prgm ld of goo d r l propol Wh o

hould ly b r md h y d b h r d o y

m d b o h my urf: m d d o d poy h



· -

200 SV Z

ott. All sy o b tk ruprtd) from us - vtg

xpt our s . Ts sl, ts rto of dogu, of forms of

g, s our trror, omous d trtg s t sould b

Ts trt s lry prvd by A Appbum T symbo of

W Strt s t mt sttu of bu ts tr d ord popl

v b rvg qut lot of ts st rt yrs Wl t st

drd rtos of Wl Strt tsf r t xptd vlgr forms of

bulst, Appbum proposd t

Whing on o

mor sopst

td, rfumd vrso, ludg rfrs to Mo Pytos

Th

Brin

S r gtv vrso of Ctos ll for ort proposls

stds for doo t ts purst, t dsrvs to b quotd dt T

bss of r rsog s t lm tt t protsts roud t ord r

smlr tr k of fous, tr ot tur, d bov ll

tr rfus to gg t xstg dmort sttutos I N

York, mrrs td, Ts s t dmory ooks k', but tu

y, ts st t dmory looks lk Ts s t frdom of

sp looks lk Dmory ooks lot mor borg. Dmory

rqurs sttutos, tos, pot prts, rus, ls, udry

d my uglmorous, tmosumg tvts . . . Yt o ss,

t ttol Oupy movmts flur to produ soud lgs

tv proposs s udrstdb bot t sours of t globl

oom rss d t solutos to t l, by dto, outsd t

ompt of lo d tol pots.

T mrg of trto protst movmt tout

ort progrm s trfor ot dt t rts dpr

rss, o tout obvous soluto Dmory s bsd o t rul

of l Dmory orks oly t stt bordrs d mog

pop o f tmslvs to b prt of t sm to. A globl

ommu ot b to dmory. Ad tol dmo

ry ot ommd t llg of bllodollr glob dg

fud, t ts durtrs tx v d ts moys sttrd

roud t ord

Uk t Epts Trr Sur to om t Lodo d

N York protstrs oply d rduously) ompr tmsvs,

v dmort sttutos t Wstr ord Ty r

dsgd to rt, t st rudly, t dsr for polt g

t gv to But ty ot op t t dsr for gobl

ot g, or ty otro tgs tt pp outsd tr



NSWERS WIT T QEST NS 20

bord rs Although I st b v gobztos oom d sprt

ul b ts og th op bord rs, fr dom of mov m t d fr

trd gobzto hs ry b gu to ud rm th gtmy of

W st r d mor s

Gob tvsts, f th y r ot r fu, l l rt tht d l

Prot st rs Lodo shout, W d to hv pro ss ! W , th y

r dy hv pro ss It s l d th Brtsh potl syst m Ad f

th y dot gur ou t ho to us t, th yll smpy k t furth r

Th rst thg to ot s App bum's r duto of th Thrr Squr

prot sts to lls for W st rs d mory o do ths, t of

ours b om s rduous to ompr th W Str t prot sts th th

Ept v ts Ho prot st rs h r d md ht lr dy hv ,

m y d mort sttutos? Wht s th r by lost from v s th

g r dsot t th th gobl ptlst syst m hh, obvousy,

qur s dff r t forms h r or th r .

But th most shokg prt of App bums rgm tto truy

rd gp rgum tto - ours t th d Aft r o dg tht th

ud s rv d oom os qu s of gob ptst s r d

to th r t rto hrt r b yod th grsp of d mort m h

sms

hh r by d to lmt d to tostt s, sh drs th

ssry ouso tht globlzto hs l rly b gu to ud rm

th gtmy of W st r d mor s So fr so good, mght sy th s

s pr s ly ht th prot st rs r drg tt to to tht gob

ptsm ud rm s d mory But st d of drg th oy og

furth r oluso, tht shoud strt thg bout ho to xpd

d mory b yod ts stt multpr potl form, hh xlud s th

d strutv os qu s of oom l f , sh p rforms rd tur

rod d shs th bm oto th prot st rs th ms lv s ho hv

strt d to rs th s qu stos H r lst prg}ph d s rv s to b

r p t d Gob tvsts, f th y r ot r fu, l rt th t

d Prot st rs Lodo shout, W d to hv pro ss W ,

th y r dy hv pro ss ts l d th Brtsh pot syst m Ad f

th y dot gur out ho to us t, th y' l smpy k t furth r So,

s th gob oomy s b yod th sop of d mort pots y

tt mpt to xpd d mory to ts v l l rt th d of

d mory Wht, th , do? Egg th xstg potl

16 Quo d ro Ann Appl au 'Wha Occupy pro ll u ao h l s of d o

racy aaal a washonposo



0 SV ZZE

syst m which, accoding to Appl baum's account its f, p cis ly

cnno

do th ob . . .

t is h that w should go al th way: th is no lack of anticapital

ism today w a witn ssing a vast xpansion of citiqu s of th hoos

of capitalism: books, ind pth n wspap inv stigations and V pots

abound on compani s uthl ssy poluting ou nvionm nt, on coupt

bank s who continu to g t fat bonus s whil th i banks hav to b

sav d by public mon y, on sw at shops wh child n wok ov tim ,

and so on. h is, how v , a catch in al th is ov ow of citiqu : what

is as a ul not qu stion d, uth ss as it may app a, is th v d mo

caticlib al fam wok of ghting against th s xc ss s. h ( xplicit

o

impli d) goa is to d mocatiz capitalism, to xt nd d mocatic contol

into th conomy, though th p ssu of th m dia, paliam nta

inquii s, hash laws, hon st polic inv stigations, and so on - but n v

to qu stion th d mocatic institutional fam wok of th (boug ois)

stat of aw. his mains th sac d cow that v n th most adica foms

of this thical anticapitalism (th Poto A g Wold Social Foum, th

S att mov m nt) do not da touch

t is h that Maxs k y insight mains valid, today p haps mo

than v fo Max, th qu stion of f dom should not b locat d pima

iy in th polit ical sph pop (Do s a count hav f l ctions?

A th udg s ind p nd nt? Is th p ss f fom hidd n p ssu s? A

human ights sp ct d? and th simila list of qu stions vaious ind

p nd nt and not so ind p nd nt - W st n institutions apply wh n

th y want to ponounc a udgm nt on a count) . h k y to actua f

dom ath sid s in th apolitical n twok of socia lations, fom th

mak t to th family, wh th chang n d d if w want an actua

impov m nt is not a political fom, but a chang in apolitical socia

lations of poduction. W do not vot about who owns what, about la

tions in a facto, and so on, fo all this is l ft to poc ss s outsid th

sph of th poitica, and it is illuso to xp ct that on can ff ctiv y

chang things by xt nding d mocacy into this sph - say, by ogan

izing d mocatic banks und p opl s contol. Radical chang s in this

domain should b mad outsid th sph of l gal ights and so on in

such d mocatic poc du s (which, of cous , can hav a positiv ol

to pay), no matt how adical ou anticapitalism, th solution is sought

in

applying th d mocatic m chanisms which on should n v fog t,

a pat of th stat appaatus s of th boug ois stat that guaant s

th undistub d functioning of capitalist poduction. In this p cis



ANWR W QT N 20

s ns Baou was rgh n hs clam that, toay, th nam o th u mat

n my s not captalsm, mpr , xplotaon, or anythng smlar, ut

mocracy' t s th d mocratc lluson, th acc ptanc o d mocratc

m chansms as h ult mat horon o v chang , whch pr v nts th

radcal chang o capast r aons

h Occupy pro ss ar thus a gnnng, and on must gn lk

that, wth a ormal g stur o r cton whch s mor mportan than pos

tv cont nt - only such a g stur op ns up th spac or th n w cont nt

So w shoud not rror y th p r nnal u ston: But what do

th y want? R m m r hat hs s th arch pal u son addr ss d y

a mal mast r o a hyst rcal woman Wth all your whnng and compan

ng - do you know at all what you r ally want? In th psychoanalytc

s ns , h prot sts ar ctv ly a hyst rcal ac, provokng h mas r,

und rmnng hs author, an th u son Bu what do you want?

ams pr cs ly to pr clud th ru answ r - ts pont s: Say t on my

t rms or shut up

hs, o cours , do s not m an that th prot st rs should pamp r

and at r - oday, v r, nt ll ctuals shoul con ull support or

th prot s rs wth a nonparonng, cold, analytcal dsanc , gnnng

y u stonng th prot st rs s l sgnaton as th 99 p r c nt agans

th gr dy 1 p r c nt how many o th 99 p r c nt ar r ady to acc pt

h s prot s rs as th r voc , and to what xt n? I w ak a cos r

look a h w lknown man so o h Spansh

inigno

ang on s',

w ar n or som surprs s h rst thng that srk s h y s th

pont dly apoltca ton Som o us consd r ours lv s progr ssv ,

oth rs cons rvav Som o us ar l v rs, som not. Som o us hav

cl arly d n d d olog s, oth rs ar apolcal , u w ar all conc rn d

an ang aout th polcal , conomc, and socal outlook whch w s

around us: corrupon among poltcans, usn ss n, ank rs, l avng

us h lpl ss, wthout a voc . h y voc h r prot st on hal o th

na nal truths that w should ad y n our soc h rgh to

housng, mploym nt, cultur , h alth , ducaton, poltcal parcpaton ,

r p rsonal d v opm nt, and consum r rghts or a h althy an happy

l ' R ctng vol nc , th y call or an thcal r voluton. Inst ad o

placng mon y aov human ngs, w shal l pu t ack to our s rvc

W ar p opl , not products I am not a product o what I uy why I uy

and who I uy rom. ' Who wl th ag nt o ths r voluon? Whl th

ntr poltcal class, rght and l t, s smss as corrupt an controll

y

th lust or pow r, th man sto non th ss conssts o a s r s o



20 SV ZIZE

mas a ss o whom No h p opl h ms lv s: h

ini

nao

o o lam ha o o wll o fo h m ha (o paaphas

Gah

h y h ms lv s hav o h ag h y wa o s . I s ms

ha Laas all oo asy a smssiv ma o h 96 po s s

fo s ag h

innao:

As

PoLu ionari

yo a

hy r

who

ma a

nw

m: Yo wll g o .

Fa wih h mas of h po s s, ll als a i ly

o i h posio of h sj s sppos o ow: h y ao op a

ioalz h s mas, asla h m o poposals fo p s a

ail als m as s. Wh h fall of h y omm

ism, h y fo v fof i h ol as a vaga whh sas

h laws of hsoy a a gi h o s alog s pah h p opl ,

how v , o s o ow h - h p opl as a w g of h sj

sppos oow is a myh of h pa wh lams o a o is b half,

fom Maos sloga o l a fom h fam s p o H gg 's famos

app al o hs ol fam f i his sho x Why Do I Say h

Povi s fom 19

-

a moh af h sg as h a of h

F g Uv s

R ly I go a s o iviao o ah a h Uv s of B li

O ha oaso I l F bg a wih w o h a I ls

o wha h moais a h fo s a h famlas w sayg,

a I w o s a ol fi of m , a 7y aol fam H ha

a abo h all o B l h wspap s. Wha wol h say

Slowly h h s gaz of hs l a y s o m , a pig h s

moh gh sh, h hoghfl p his faifl ha o my shol

. Ev so slighly h shoo hs h a. ha m a: asol ly o

7

O a oly mag wha h ol fam was ally g i all

pobabl i, h w wha asw gg wa fom hm a

pol ly pov i So o wsom of oay m will ll h po s s

war bibn wir

i Wall S h is o sj who ows, h

h fom of ll als o oia p opl So is hs o a alo: h

bli l ag h bl, ah of h m p spposg ha h oh s a o

l No, as h sp v goa s o symm ial: s h

p opl who hav h asw s, h y js o o ow h q sos o

whh h y hav (o, ah , a h asw Joh B g wo abo

7 Quot d om ' d gg r T an and t Tnk avaable at tanford du



ASWRS WITHOUT QUESTIOS 0

t mt td s ts w d t ms lv s t wrg sd t

Wll (dvdg ts w ar n m ts w r t) :

T mlttd s av asw rs t stns w av t y t b

ps d d t y v t p t tlv t walls T stns

a t y t sk d b as t d s r s ws ad pts w

rng tr ad ts rr ty b ng s d t m v ts av b

r d d m nngl ss: D mry Lb Prdtv t Wt

w pts t sts wl s b ps d r st vlv s

p s ly s a pr ss stg S? Wt a g rat. 8

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The Idea of Communism 2